2.

WEEK: DATA
COLLECTION
 What is Data?
• Data is a collection of facts, such as numbers, words, measurements,
observations or even just descriptions of things.
 What is Data Collection?
• Data collection is the process of gathering and/or measuring data on
targeted variables in an established systematic fashion, which then
enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes.
 How To Gather Data?
UNIT: It refers to one member of a set of entities being studied. A statistical unit is

the unit of observation or measurement for which data are collected or derived.
Examples of Units:
• Individual
• Household
• Enterprise
• Animal
• Plant
• Product
• …..
• First decision: Is it possible to reach all units in the population?

YES Units in Population

NO Units in Sample
• Second decision: What are the variables?

VARIABLE: Variable is an attribute that describes a person, place, thing, or

idea. And the value of the variable can "vary" from one unit to another.

Examples of Variables:
• Height,
• Age,
• Amount of income,
• Province or country of birth,
• Grades obtained at school
•…
• Variables may be classified into two main categories:

Nominal
Qualitative
Ordinal
VARIABLE
Discrete
Quantitative
Continous
Qualitative Variable: Qualitative variables have values that describe a 'quality'
or 'characteristic' of a unit, like 'what type' or 'which category'. They tend to be
represented by a non-numeric value.

Qualitative (categorical) variables may be further described as ordinal or

nominal:

* An ordinal variable is a qualitative variable. Observations can take a value

that can be logically ordered or ranked. The categories associated with ordinal
variables can be ranked higher or lower than another, but do not necessarily
establish a numeric difference between each category.

* A nominal variable is a qualitative variable. Observations can take a value

that is not able to be organised in a logical sequence.
Quantitative Variable: Quantitative variables have values that describe a
measurable quantity as a number, like 'how many' or 'how much'.

Quantitative variables may be further described as either continuous or

discrete:

* A continuous variable is a quantitative variable. Observations can take any

value between a certain set of real numbers. The value given to an observation
for a continuous variable can include values as small as the instrument of
measurement allows.

* A discrete variable is a quantitative variable. Observations can take a value

based on a count from a set of distinct whole values. A discrete variable cannot
take the value of a fraction between one value and the next closest value.
• Gender
• Height
• Academic grades (i.e. A, B, C),
• Time,
• Business type,
• Brand
• Age,
• Number of children in a family
• Number of registered cars
• Temperature.
• Clothing size (i.e. small, medium, large, extra large)
• Eye color
• Attitudes (i.e. strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree).
• Third decision: Which data collection method will be used?

Main Data Collection Methods:

• Documents
• Observations
• Survey
• Experimental Methods
• Nominal Group Technique
• Delphi
• ….
3. WEEK: ORGANIZING
DATA