Data collection tool and techniques

Data collection
• Collecting data is the connecting link to the world of reality
for the research.
• Data collection activity consists of taking ordered
information from reality and transferring it into some
recording system so that it can later be examined and
analyzed for pattern.
• Data collection is described as the “process of gathering
and measuring information on variables of interest, in an
established systematic fashion that enables one to answer
queries, stated research questions, test hypotheses, and
evaluate outcomes.”
 Basic terminologies
• Population/Universe: Total number of respondents which we want to
study.
• Finite or Infinite population: Finite means exact number of respondents
in the population is known and if the exact number is not known them it
is referred as infinite.
• Sample: It is a part selected from the population.
• Small or large Sample: When the number od respondents/items in the
sample is less then 30, it is termed as a small sample. When the number
of items are more than 30; it is termed as large sample.
• Significance: Accordingly the research steps, tests and formulae are
applied. Example; in case of small sample t-test is applied, in case of
large sample z-test is applied.
• Parameter and statistic: Statistical values related to population are
called parameter and those related to sample are called statistic.
• Parametric tests and non-parametric tests: parametric tests are used
when certain assumption of the population. When no assumptions can
be made about the population then non-parametric tests are used.
• Hypothesis: It is an assumption which is yet to be
tested.
• Level of confidence and level of Significance: The
confidence level or reliability is the expected
percentage of times that the actual value will fall
within the stated precision limits. Significance level
indicated the likelihood that the answer will fall
outside that range i.e. errors may be there.
• Precision limits: Those limits between which the
research results are expected to lie.
 Types of data
• Observational Data
Observational data are captured through observation of a behavior or activity.
It is collected using methods such as human observation, open-ended
surveys, or the use of an instrument or sensor to monitor and record
information such as the use of sensors to observe noise levels at the Mpls/St
Paul airport. Because observational data are captured in real time, it would be
very difficult or impossible to re-create if lost.
• Experimental Data
Experimental data are collected through active intervention by the researcher
to produce and measure change or to create difference when a variable is
altered. Experimental data typically allows the researcher to determine a
causal relationship and is typically projectable to a larger population. This
type of data are often reproducible, but it often can be expensive to do so.
• Simulation Data
Simulation data are generated by imitating the operation of a real-world
process or system over time using computer test models. For example, to
predict weather conditions, economic models, chemical reactions, or seismic
activity. This method is used to try to determine what would, or could, happen
under certain conditions. The test model used is often as, or even more,
important than the data generated from the simulation.
• Derived / Compiled Data
Derived data involves using existing data points, often from different data
sources, to create new data through some sort of transformation, such as an
arithmetic formula or aggregation. For example, combining area and
population data from the Twin Cities metro area to create population density
data. While this type of data can usually be replaced if lost, it may be very
time-consuming (and possibly expensive) to do so.
 Source of data
• Primary source of data
• Secondary source of data
 Primary data
• Primary data are original data gathered by a researcher for
a research project at hand. Many studies can be
undertaken by going to existing data sources.
• However in many cases the needed material may not be
available or what is found in a proof is inadequate. In
many cases where information requirements cannot be
satisfied from secondary sources, the researcher goes for
primary data. Thus after scanning various secondary data
sources, primary data are collected for meeting specific
objectives of the study.
• In short primary data are first hand data and fresh data
which are not previously exist.
Methods of collecting primary data
• Questionnaire methods
• Interviewing methods
• Observation methods
 Questionnaire methods
• It is main tool used in survey research.
• It is questions designed to gather responses from
respondent from a given topics.
Questionnaire design: It is designed to get different types
of primary data from the respondent and a questionnaire
must be covered the following points:
• Intentions
• Attitudes and opinions
• Activities an behavior
• Demographic characteristics
In designing questionnaire we have to consider
the following aspects:
• Information desired
• Types and form of question: types refers
whether the questions will be open end or
close. Form refers positively or negatively
worded questions.
• Length
• Wording: shouldn’t be ambiguous questions
• Ordered: lead from general to specific questions
 Components of questionnaire
• Explanation of information: It provides to the
respondent to explain the purpose of the study.
These information are usually given at the
beginning of the questionnaire in the form of letter
or instructions.
• Basic information: This covers all necessary subjects
of the study adequately.
• Classification information: Also known for personal
information which includes age, gender, education,
marital status, family income, occupation and so on.
 Interviewing Methods
• It is a methods allowing the researcher to ask
questions which will enable him to answer
research questions.
• Structured interview: Asking questions and
suggesting a list a possible answers.
• Unstructured/Open interview: Respondent
answering the questions in his own style.
• Interview schedule: The interviewer follows a
guideline indicating which question should be asked.
• In construction of an interview schedule the following
criteria for question writings should be consider
• Is the question related to research problem?
• Is the type of question right an appropriate one?
• Is the items in the questions are clear and
unambiguous?
• Is the questions in anywhere leading?
• Does the question demand knowledge and
information that the respondent doesn’t have?
 Observation methods
Observing the phenomena or events as they occur.
Direct observation has the advantage of putting
researchers into first hand contact with reality.
Types of observation
• Participant observation: The observer participates
with the activities of the group under the study.
The observer makes himself a part of the group
under the study. Sociologist and Anthropologist
frequently observed only one group over a long
period of time.
• Non participant: The observer don’t participate in the
activities of the group but simply observe from a distance.
It further be classified as structured or unstructured.
• The aim of unstructured observation is to observe and
record behavior in a holistic way without the use of a pre-
determined guide that has been planned in advance. The
unstructured observation attempts to provide as complete
and non-selective a description a possible.
• On the other hand, structured observation provides a
complete list of all expected behaviors and requires only
that the observer checks which ones occurred. Hence
structured observation is quantitative. Events in structured
observation are recorded according to an observation
guide. The concern here is to record the frequency of
those events. The purpose is to quantify behaviors.
 Secondary data
• Secondary data refers to data which is collected by someone
who is someone other than the user. Common sources of
secondary data for social science include censuses,
information collected by government departments,
organizational records and data that was originally collected
for other research purposes.
• Secondary data analysis can save time that would otherwise
be spent collecting data and, particularly in the case of
quantitative data, can provide larger and higher-quality
databases that would be unfeasible for any individual
researcher to collect on their own.