CHAPTER Three:

Research design and data

collection
2024
Session Objectives

• To understand source of data and type of data

• To understand how to collect and present primary data
• To understand the concept of research design
Source of Data

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 Qualitative or Numerical Data

Discrete Data
• Only certain values are possible (there are gaps between the possible value
s)
Continuous Data
• Theoretically, any value within an interval is possible with a
fine enough measuring device

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Types of Data

• Primary data: data observed and recorded or collected

directly from respondents

• Secondary data: data complied both inside and outside the

organization for some purpose other than the current investigation

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 Data collection
Collecting Quantitative Data
Identify your unit analysis
• Who can supply the information that you will use to answer your Quantitative
research questions or hypotheses?
Specify the population and sample
Information to collect
• Specify variable from research questions and hypotheses
• Operationally define each variable
• Choose types of data and measures

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Primary Data collection Techniques

• Interview
• Questioner
• Observation:
• Survey
• Experimentation

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Interviews Different Techniques:-
1. Structured (closed) interviews
• Stakeholders answer a predefined set of questions
• Easy to analyze (+)
• Well-formed questions generate well-formed answers (+)
• Knowledge about what and how to ask (-)
• Example How satisfied are you with the online learning platform? (Very satisfied,
Satisfied, Neutral, Dissatisfied, Very Dissatisfied)
2. Non-structured (open) interviews
• No predefined agenda
• Generating new ideas (experimental, brain storming) (+)
• sometimes hard to handle (dynamics of discussion) (-)
• Example "Can you describe the biggest challenges you face in farming?"
3. In practice: mixed interview types are normal. 8
 Observation

Advantage:
• subjective bias is eliminated
• The gathered information implies the current situation
• independent of respondents’ willingness
Disadvantage
• expensive method
• Information limitation
• Interference of unseen factors
• Interference of some peoples
Survey

Advantages of using survey…

• Collect information from a large number of users simultaneously.
• If designed correctly, it can be quick & easy to analyze the data.
• Relatively cheap.

Disadvantages of using survey…

• Rich data collection is not possible
• Does not provide the holistic view of a system

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 Questionnaires

Advantages of Questionnaires…
• Questionnaires provide an efficient way to collect information from multiple
stakeholders quickly.

• Generally questionnaires are considered

• more useful as informal checklists to ensure fundamental elements are addressed
early on

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 Cont.

Disadvantages of Questionnaires…
• Questionnaires lack the opportunity to investigate further on a topic, or expand on
new ideas.

• In the same way questionnaires provide no mechanism for the participants to

request clarification or correct misunderstandings.

Solution: pilot survey

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Selection of appropriate method for data collection

1. Nature, scope and object of enquiry:

• important in deciding whether the data already available (secondary data) are
to be used or the data not yet available (primary data) are to be collected.
2. Availability of funds:
3. Time factor:
4. Precision required:
• time is also restricted and the data is to be collected in respect of few items
with or without a certain degree of precision.
 What is research design?

• The formable problem that follows the task of defining the research
problem
• is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in
a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with
economy in procedure.
• is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted;
 What is research design?
Question to be addressed for design
decision are
vi. What periods of time will the
i. What is the study about? study include?
ii. Why is the study being made? vii. What will be the sample design?
iii. Where will the study be carried viii.What techniques of data
out? collection will be used?
iv. What type of data is required? ix. How will the data be analysed?
v. Where can the required data be x. In what style will the report be
found? prepared?
Type of research design?

Sampling design: deals with the method of selecting items to be observed for the given study.

Observational design which relates to the conditions under which the observations are to be

made;

the statistical design which concerns with the question of how many items are to be observed

and how the information and data gathered are to be analysed.

 the operational design which deals with the techniques by which the procedures specified in

the sampling, statistical and observational designs can be carried out.

From what has been stated above, we can state the important features of a research
Features of a research design
• Plan
─ specifies the sources and types of information relevant to the research
• problem
─ strategy specifying which approach will be used for gathering and analysing
the data
• Time and cost budgets
 Basic constraint of research design

• A clear statement of the research problem;

• Procedures and techniques to be used for gathering information

• The population to be studied;

• Methods to be used in processing and analysing data

 Need For Research Design

• Facilitates the smooth sailing of the various research operations

• Blueprint
• data collection and analysis
• Bearing of reliability research result
 Features of a Good Design

General view of good design

• Flexible
• Optimize and Reliable of data collection and analysis
• Has small experimental error
• Yield maximum information
 Features of a Good Design

Critical factor of Good design

• The means of obtaining information;

• The availability and skills of the researcher and his staff, if any;

• The objective of the problem to be studied;

• The nature of the problem to be studied; and

• The availability of time and money for the research worth