CET0212

ENGINEERING DATA ANALYSIS

1. OBTAINING DATA
1.1 Methods of Data Collection
1.2 Planning and Conducting Surveys
1.3. Introduction to Design Experiments

2. PROBABILITY
2.1 Relationship among Events
2.2 Rules of Probability
3. Discrete Probability Distribution
3.1 Random Variables
3.2 Cumulative Distribution
3.3 Binomial Distribution
3.4 Poisson Distribution
4. Continuous Probability Distribution
4.1 Continuous Random Variables
4.2 Normal and Exponential
Distribution
 METHODS OF DATA
COLLECTION

Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring

information on variables of interest, in an established systematic
fashion that enables one to answer stated research questions, test
hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.
 TYPES OF DATA
1. PRIMARY DATA
data which are collected a fresh and for
the first time and thus happen to be
original in character and known as
PRIMARY DATA.

2. SECONDARY DATA
data which have been collected by someone else
and which have already been passed through the
statistical process.
 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION:
PRIMARY DATA

1. Observation
2. Interview
3. Questionnaire
4. Case Study
5. Survey
 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA

OBSERVATION

Observation method is a method under

which data from the field is collected with the help
of observation by the observer or by personally
going to the field.

ADVANTAGES
Subjective bias eliminated
Current information
Independent to respondent’s
variable
DISADVANTAGES
Time consuming
Limited information
Unforeseen factors
 TYPES OF OBSERVATION

STRUCTURED and
UNSTRUCTURED
1. Structured Observation
when observation is done by characterizing style of recording
the observed information, standardized conditions of
observation , definition of the units to be observed , selection
of pertinent data of observation.
Example: An auditor performing inventory analysis in store

2. Unstructured Observation
when observation is done without any thought before
observation.
Example: Observing children playing with new toys.
 TYPES OF OBSERVATION
PARTICIPANT and NON-PARTICIPANT
1. Participant
when the Observer is member of the group which he is
observing.
Advantages: 1. Observation of natural behavior
2. Closeness with the group
3. Better understanding

2. Non-participant
when observer is observing people without giving any
information to them.
Advantages: 1. Objectivity and neutrality
2. More willingness of the respondent
 TYPES OF OBSERVATION
CONTROLLED and UNCONTROLLED
1. Controlled
when the observation takes place in natural condition. It is
done to get spontaneous picture of life and persons.

2. Uncontrolled
when observation takes place according to definite pre
arranged plans , with experimental procedure then it is
controlled observation generally done in laboratory under
controlled condition.
 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA

INTERVIEW METHOD
INTERVIEW METHOD
This method of collecting data
involves presentation or oral-verbal
stimuli and reply in terms of oral-
verbal responses.

Interview Method is an oral verbal communication where

interviewer asks questions (which are aimed to get
information required for study) to respondent.
 TYPES OF INTERVIEW
• Personal interviews : The interviewer asks questions
generally in a face to face contact to the other person or
persons.
• Structured interviews : in this case, a set of pre- decided
questions are there.
• Unstructured interviews : in this case, we don’t follow a
system of pre-determined questions.
• Focused interviews : attention is focused on the given
experience of the respondent and its possible effects.
• Clinical interviews : concerned with broad underlying
feelings or motivations or with the course of individual’s life
experience, rather than with the effects of the specific
experience, as in the case of focused interview.
 TYPES OF INTERVIEW
• Group interviews : a group of 6 to 8 individuals is
interviewed.
• Qualitative and quantitative interviews : divided on the
basis of subject matter i.e. whether qualitative or quantitative.
• Individual interviews : interviewer meets a single person
and interviews him.
• Selection interviews : done for the selection of people for
certain jobs.
• Depth interviews : it deliberately aims to elicit unconscious
as well as other types of material relating especially to
personality dynamics and motivations.
• Telephonic interviews : contacting samples on telephone.
 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA

QUESTIONNAIRE METHOD
QUESTIONNAIRE
METHOD
This method of data collection is quite
popular, particularly in case of big
enquiries.

The questionnaire is mailed to respondents who are

expected to read and understand the questions and write
down the reply in the space meant for the purpose in the
questionnaire itself. The respondents have to answer the
questions on their own.
 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA

QUESTIONNAIRE METHOD
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Low cost even if the geographical area Low rate of return of duly filled
is too large questionnaire.

Answers are in respondents word so free Slowest method of data collection.

from bias.

Adequate time to think for answers. Difficult to know if the expected

respondent have filled the form or it is
filled by someone else.
Non approachable respondents may be
conveniently contacted.

Large samples can be used so results are

more reliable.
 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA

CASE STUDY METHOD

CASE STUDY METHOD is essentially
an intensive investigation of the
particular unit under consideration.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
They are less costly and less time- They are subject to selection bias
consuming; they are advantageous
when exposure data is expensive or
hard to obtain.
They are advantageous when studying They generally do not allow
dynamic populations in which follow- calculation of incidence (absolute risk).
up is difficult.
 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION: PRIMARY DATA

SURVEY METHOD
SURVEY METHOD is one of the
common methods of diagnosing and
solving of social problems is that of
undertaking surveys.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Relatively easy to administer Respondents may not feel encouraged
to provide accurate, honest answers
Can be developed in less time Surveys with closed-ended questions
(compared to other data-collection may have a lower validity rate than
methods) other question types.
Cost-effective, but cost depends on Data errors due to question non-
survey mode responses may exist.
 SECONDAY DATA:

SOURCES OF DATA
• Publications of Central, state , local government
• Technical and trade journals
• Books, Magazines, Newspaper
• Reports & publications of industry ,bank, stock
exchange
• Reports by research scholars, Universities, economist
• Public Records
 FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE
USING SECONDARY DATA

• Reliability of data – Who, when , which methods, at

what time etc.
• Suitability of data – Object ,scope, and nature of
original inquiry should be studied, as if the study was
with different objective then that data is not suitable for
current study
• Adequacy of data– Level of accuracy,
• Area differences then data is not adequate for study
 SELECTION OF PROPER METHOD FOR
COLLECTION OF DATA

• Nature ,Scope and object of inquiry

• Availability of Funds
• Time Factor
• Precision Required
 DESIGNING A SURVEY

Surveys can take different forms. They can be used to ask only
one question or they can ask a series of questions. We can use
surveys to test out people’s opinions or to test a hypothesis.

When designing a survey, the following steps are useful:

 
1. Determine the goal of your survey: What question do you
want to answer?
2. Identify the sample population: Whom will you interview?
3. Choose an interviewing method: face-to-face interview,
phone interview, self-administered paper survey, or internet
survey.
 DESIGNING A SURVEY

4. Decide what questions you will ask in what order, and

how to phrase them. (This is important if there is more than
one piece of information you are looking for.)

5. Conduct the interview and collect the information.

6. Analyze the results by making graphs and drawing

conclusions.
 DESIGNING A SURVEY

Example:
1. Martha wants to construct a survey that shows which
sports students at her school like to play the most.

Step 1: List the goal of the survey

Step 2: What population should she interview?
Step 3: How should she administer the survey?
Step 4: Create a data collection sheet that she can use to
record her results
 DESIGNING A SURVEY

Step 1: GOAL
The goal of the survey is to find the answer to the question: “Which
sports do students at Martha’s school like to play the most?”

Step 2: POPULATION
A sample of the population would include a random sample of the
student population in Martha’s school. A good strategy would be to
randomly select students (using dice or a random number generator) as
they walk into an all-school assembly.
 DESIGNING A SURVEY

Step 3: METHODS
Face-to-face interviews are a good choice in this case. Interviews will be
easy to conduct since the survey consists of only one question which can
be quickly answered and recorded, and asking the question face to face
will help eliminate non-response bias.

Step 4: DATA
 DESIGNING A SURVEY

Example:
1. Juan wants to construct a survey that shows how many
hours per week the average student at his school works.

Step 1: List the goal of the survey

Step 2: What population should she interview?
Step 3: How should she administer the survey?
Step 4: Create a data collection sheet that she can use to
record her results
 DESIGNING A SURVEY

Step 1: GOAL
The goal of the survey is to find the answer to the question “How many
hours per week do you work?”

Step 2: POPULATION
Juan suspects that older students might work more hours per week than
younger students. He decides that a stratified sample of the student
population would be appropriate in this case. The strata are grade levels
9th through 12th. He would need to find out what proportion of the
students in his school are in each grade level, and then include the same
proportions in his sample.
 DESIGNING A SURVEY

Step 3: METHODS
Face-to-face interviews are a good choice in this case since the survey
consists of two short questions which can be quickly answered and
recorded.

Step 4: DATA
 THE BASIS OF CONDUCTING AN
EXPERIMENT
1. With an experiment, the researcher is trying to learn something
new about the world, an explanation of 'why' something happens.

2. The experiment must maintain internal and external validity, or

the results will be useless.

3. When designing an experiment, a researcher must follow all of

the steps of the scientific method, from making sure that the
hypothesis is valid and testable, to using controls and statistical tests
• QUESTIONS???