Sources of Data collection

Data sources in research are primarily

1. Primary data sources

2. Secondary data sources

Primary Data: Data that has been generated by the researcher himself/herself, surveys,
interviews, experiments, specially designed for understanding and solving the research
problem at hand.
Examples of Primary Data

 Market Research

This is an important aspect of business strategy that involves the process of gathering information
about the target market and customers. The data gathered during market research is primary as it is
tailored specifically to meet the business needs.

An organization doing market research about a new product (say phone) they are about to release
will need to collect data like purchasing power, feature preferences, daily phone usage, etc. from the
target market. The data from past surveys are not used because the product differs.

 Student Thesis

When conducting academic research or a thesis experiment, students collect data from the primary
source. The kind of data collected during this process may vary according to the kind of research
being performed—lab experiments, statistical data gathering, etc.

For example, a student carrying out a research project to find out the effect of daily intake of fruit
juice on an individual's weight will need to take a sample population of 2 or more people, feed them
with fruit juice daily and record the changes in their weight. The data gathered throughout this
process is primary.

Secondary Data: Using existing data generated by large government Institutions,

healthcare facilities etc. as part of organizational record keeping. The data is then extracted
from more varied data files

Example of secondary data

Secondary data means data collected by someone else earlier. Surveys, observations, experiments,
questionnaire, personal interview, etc. Government publications, websites, books, journal articles,
internal records etc.
 BASIS FOR
PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA
COMPARISON

Meaning Primary data refers to the first Secondary data means data
hand data gathered by the collected by someone else
researcher himself. earlier.

Data Real time data Past data

Process Very involved Quick and easy

Source Surveys, observations, Government publications,

experiments, questionnaire, websites, books, journal articles,
personal interview, etc. internal records etc.

Cost effectiveness Expensive Economical

Collection time Long Short

Specific Always specific to the May or may not be specific to

researcher's needs. the researcher's need.

Available in Crude form Refined form

Accuracy and More Relatively less

Reliability

.
 Quantitative & Qualitative Research Methods
Quantitative Research Definition: Data that can be measured, quantified.
Basically Descriptive Statistics.
Qualitative Research Definition: Data collected that is not numerical, hence cannot be
quantified. It measures other characteristics through interviews, observation and
focused groups among a few methods. It can also be termed as "Categorical
Statistics".
Mixed methods research. When quantitative and qualitative research methods are used.
Qualitative Research Methods:

Method Overall Purpose Advantages Challenges

Surveys  Quickly and/or easily gets lots
of information from people in
a non threatening way
 can complete anonymously
 inexpensive to administer
 easy to compare and
analyze
 administer to many people
 can get lots of data
 many sample
questionnaires already
exist
 might not get careful
feedback
 wording can bias
client's responses
 impersonal
 may need sampling
expert
 doesn't get full story

Interviews  Understand someone's  get full range and depth of  can take ime
impressions or experiences information  can be hard to analyze
 Learn more about answers to  develops relationship with and compare
questionnaires client  can be costly
 can be flexible with client  interviewer can bias
client's responses

Observation  Gather firsthand information  view operations of a  can be difficult to

about people, events, or program as they are interpret seen
programs actually occurring behaviors
 can adapt to events as they  can be complex to
occur categorize
observations
 can influence
behaviors of program
participants
 can be expensive
Method Overall Purpose Advantages Challenges

Focus  Explore a topic in depth  quickly and reliably get
Groups through group discussion common impressions
 can be efficient way to get
much range and depth of
information in short time
 can convey key
information about
programs
 can be hard to analyze
responses
 need good facilitator
for safety and closure
 difficult to schedule 6-
8 people together

Case  Understand an experience or  depicts client's experience  usually time

Studies conduct comprehensive
examination through cross
comparison of cases
in program input, process
and results
 powerful means to portray
program to outsiders
consuming to collect,
organize and describe
 represents depth of
information, rather
than breadth