Collection of Data

• The purpose of collection of data is to collect

evidence for reaching a sound and clear solution to
a problem.
Variables
• Something that varies or changes from time to
time.

• For examples : The output of food grains rose to

176 million tonnes in 1990–91 and 199 million
tonnes in 1996–97, but fell to 194 million tonnes in
1997–98.
• Production of food grains then rose continuously
and touched 212 million tonnes in 2001–02.”
• The variables are generally represented by the
letters X, Y or Z.

• The values of these variables are the observation.

• Production of Food Grain in India (Million Tonnes)
X Y
1970–71 108
1978–79 132
1979–80 108
1990–91 176
1996–97 199
1997–98 194
2001–02 212
2. WHAT ARE THE
SOURCES OF DATA?
• Statistical data can be obtained from two sources.

• Primary Data- The data that is collected by the

investigator for the first time is known as primary
data. It is collected from the original source (or the
primary source) of information.
• Secondary Data: The collection of data that has
already been collected by somebody in the past is
known as secondary data.

• These data are collected and modified (as per the

need of the present research) from the published or
unpublished sources. For example, Handbook of
Indian Statistics at RBI’s website, etc.
3. HOW DO WE COLLECT
THE DATA?
• Do you know how a manufacturer decides about a
product ?

• They conduct a survey by asking questions about a

particular product or candidate from a large group
of people.
• The purpose of surveys is to describe some
characteristics like price, quality, usefulness.

• The purpose of the survey is to collect data.

• Survey is a method of gathering information from

individuals.
Mode of Data Collection
• Personal Interviews is the method under which the
investigator directly collects data from the
informants.

• Merits
1.Personal contact is made between th respondent
and the interviewer.
2.Watching the reactions of the respondents can
provide supplementary information.
Demerits
1.It is expensive, as it requires trained interviewers.
2.It takes longer time to complete the survey.
Mailing Questionnaire
The questionnaire is sent to each individual by mail
with a request to complete and return it by a given
date.

Merits
1. It is less expensive.
2. It allows the researcher to have access to people in

remote areas.
• Demerits
1.There is a possibility of misinterpretation of
questions.
2.Low response rates due to certain factors like
illiteracy, not willing to answer, etc.
 Qualities of good
questionnaire
1.The questionnaire should not be too long.
2.The number of questions should be minimum.
3.The series of questions should move from general

to specific.
4. The questions should be in logical manner.
5.The language used should be easy and simple.
Customer satisfaction survey On
X Company Face cream

Name : ……………….
Age : …………………
Education : ……………
Occupation : …………….
City : …………………
1. Have You heard of X company’s Face cream product?
Yes NO
2. Have You ever used our company’s product?
Yes NO

3. What makes you want to buy our company’s product?

Quality Price
If something else, Please Specify.

4. How do you rate our company’s product?

Good Fair Average
5. Would you like to recommend our product to friends and
relatives?
Yes NO
6. Please share your opinion with us : If Something else
• Telephone Interviews
• In a telephone interview, the investigator asks
questions over the telephone.

Merits
1. Cheaper than personal interviews
2. Can be conducted in a shorter time.
Demerits
1.As many people may not own telephones.
2.Visual reactions of the respondents not possible.
Pilot Survey
• Once the questionnaire is ready, it is advisable to
conduct a try-out with a small group which is
known as Pilot Survey
or

• Pre-Testing of the questionnaire with a small group.

CENSUS AND SAMPLE
SURVEYS
• A survey, which includes every element of the
population, is known as Census.
Or
• The Method of Complete Enumeration.

• For example, If certain agencies are interested in

studying the total population in India, they have to
obtain information from all the households in rural
and urban India.
Sample Survey
• Population or the Universe in statistics means
totality of the items under study.
• A sample refers to a group or section of the
population from which information is to be
obtained.
• A good sample is generally smaller than the
population and is capable of providing reasonably
accurate information about the population at a
much lower cost and shorter time.
 Sampling

Non –
Random
Random
sampling
sampling

Random
Lottery Convenience
table
method sampling
number
Random Sampling
• Random sampling is one where the individual units
from the population (samples) are selected at
random.

• In the random sampling, every individual has an

equal chance of being selected and the individuals
who are selected are just like the ones who are not
selected.
• Methods of random sampling
1.Lottery method :
For example The government wants to determine the
impact of the rise in petrol price on the household
budget of a particular locality.

• For this, a representative (random) sample of 30

households has to be taken and studied. The names
of all the 300 households of that area are written
on pieces of paper and mixed well, then 30 names
to be interviewed are selected one by one.
2. Random table number :
• Random number tables have been generated to
guarantee equal probability of selection of every
individual unit in the population.

• They are available either in a published form or can

be generated by using appropriate software
packages.

• You can start using the table from anywhere, i.e.,

from any page, column, row or point.
Non-Random Sampling
• A method of sampling in which each and every item
of the universe does not have equal chance of being
selected in the sample is called as non-random
sampling.
• There may be a situation that you have to select 10
out of 100 households in a locality. You have to
decide which household to select and which to
reject.
• You may select the households conveniently
situated or the households known to you or your
friend.
SAMPLING AND NON-SAMPLING
ERRORS
• Sampling error refers to the differences between
the sample estimate and the actual value of a
characteristic of the population (that may be the
average income, etc.).

• It is the error that occurs when you make an

observation from the sample taken from the
population.
• It is possible to reduce the magnitude of sampling
error by taking a larger sample.
• Example, Consider a case of incomes of 5 farmers
of Manipur. The variable x (income of farmers) has
measurements 500, 550, 600, 650, 700. We note
that the population average of (5 0 0 + 5 5 0 + 6 0 0
+ 6 5 0 + 7 0 0 ) ÷ 5 = 3000 ÷ 5 = 600.
• Now, suppose we select a sample of two individuals
where x has measurements of 500 and 600. The
sample average is (500 + 600) ÷ 2 = 1100 ÷ 2 = 550.
• Here, the sampling error of the estimate = 600
(true value) – 550 (estimate) = 50.
Non-Sampling Errors
• Non-sampling errors are more serious than
sampling errors because a sampling error can be
minimised by taking a larger sample.
• It is difficult to minimise non-sampling error, even
by taking a large sample.

• Even a Census can contain non-sampling errors.

• Some of the non-sampling errors are:

1. Errors in Data Acquisition : This type of error arises

from recording of incorrect responses.

2. Non-Response Errors : if an interviewer is unable

to contact a person listed in the sample or a person
from the sample refuses to respond.

3. Sampling Bias : Some members of the intended

population are less likely to be included than others.
CENSUS OF INDIA AND
NSSO
• National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO),
• Central Statistical Organisation (CSO)
• Registrar General of India (RGI),
• Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and
Statistics (DGCIS), etc. Are some agencies both at
the national and state level, which collect, process
and tabulate the statistical data.
 CENSUS OF INDIA
• The Census of India provides the most complete
and continuous demographic record of population.
• The Census is being regularly conducted every ten
years since 1881.
• The first Census after Independence was held in
1951.
• The Census collects information on various aspects
of population such as the size, density, sex ratio,
literacy, migration, rural urban distribution etc.
NSSO

• The NSSO was established by the government of

India to conduct nation-wide surveys on
socioeconomic issues.

• NSSO provides periodic estimates of literacy, school

enrolment, utilisation of educational services,
employment, unemployment, manufacturing and
service sector, etc.
CONCLUSION

• Economic facts, expressed in terms of numbers, are

called data.
• The purpose of data collection is to understand, explain
and analyse a problem and causes behind it.

• Primary data is obtained by conducting a survey.

• There are various agencies which collect, process,

tabulate and publish statistical data.