Methods of Data Collection Research Methodology
Methods of Data Collection Research Methodology
DATA
COLLECTION
What is Data Collection?
Harder to develop
Easier to analyze
Qualitative Approach
Data that deal with description
Resources available
Credibility
Analysis and reporting
Resources
And the skill of the evaluator
Methods of Data Collection
Secondary Data
Secondary data are those which have already been collected by someone else and
which have through some statistical analysis.
Collection of Primary
Data
Primary Data may be collected through:
Experiments
Surveys (sample surveys or census surveys)
Interviews
Observation
Questionnaires
Schedules
Collection of Primary
Data
Of the above, the important ones are:
1.Observation Method
2.Interview Method
3.Questionnaires
4.Schedules
1.Observation Method
Select participants
Random/Selected
data collected
Classification-1:-
Structured Observation
Participant Observation
When the observer is member of the group which he is observing then it is
Participant Observation.
Non-Participant Observation
Uncontrolled Observation
When the observation takes place in natural contition i.e., uncontrolled
observation.It is done to get spontaneous picture of life and persons.
Controlled Observation
When observation takes place according to pre arranged plans, with
experimental procedure then it is controlled observation generally done in
laboratory under controlled condition.
Advantages of Observation
Relative Inexpensive
Disadvantages of observation
Limited information.
Structured Interviews :
Unstructured Interviews :
Focused Interviews :
Attention is focused on the given experience of the respondent and its
possible effects.
Classifications:-
Clinical Interviews :
Concerned with broad underlying feelings or motivations or with the
course of an individual’s life experience.
Group Interviews :
a group of 6 to 8 individuals is interviewed.
Individual Interviews :
Interviewer meets a single person and interviews him.
Selection Interviews :
Done for selection of people for certain Jobs.
Advantages:-
Interviewer bias
Respondent bias
Time consuming
3.Questionnaires
Open-ended questions
This gives the respondents the ability to respond in their own words.
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Disadvantages:-
Time consuming
Enumerator goes to the respondents, asks them the questions from the
Questionnaire in the order listed, and records the responses in the
space provided.
Questionnaire Schedule
Q generally send to through Schedule is filled by the
mail and no further assistance enumerator or research
from sender. worker.
Q is cheaper method. Costly requires field workers.
Non response is high Non response is low
Incomplete and wrong Depends on Honesty of the
information is more. enumerator.
Depends on the quality of Relatively more correct and
questionnaire complete
Precision versus accuracy
Not accurate
But precise
Neither accurate
nor precise
Secondary data collection methods
Secondary data may either be published data or unpublished data.
Usually published data are available in:
(a)various publications of the central, state are local governments;
(b)various publications of foreign governments or of international bodies
and their subsidiary organisations;
(c)technical and trade journals;
(d)books, magazines and newspapers;
(e)reports and publications of various associations connected with
business and industry, banks, stock exchanges, etc.;
(f)reports prepared by research scholars, universities, economists, etc. in
different fields; and
(g)public records and statistics, historical documents, and other sources
of published information.
The sources of unpublished data are many;
they may be found in diaries, letters, unpublished biographies
and autobiographies and
also may be available with scholars and research workers,
trade associations, labour bureaus and
other public/ private individuals and organisations.
Dr. A.L. Bowley very aptly observes that it is never safe to take
published statistics at their face value without knowing their
meaning and limitations and
it is always necessary to criticise arguments that can be based
on them.
the researcher, before using secondary data, must see that
they possess following characteristics:
The data that are suitable for one enquiry may not necessarily be
found suitable in another enquiry.
Adequacy of data: