ST.

GONSALO GARCIA COLLEGE

SUBJECT: Research methods on business

PRESENTATION ON:

Sources and methods of data collection- 1 & 2

PRESENTED TO: Mrs. Rupali dabre

Sources and methods of data collection- II

Introduction:
Huge quantity of primary or secondary data can be collected by using different sources and methods. Such data collection is an important component of research process. Such data collected is treated as raw data. Conclusions are not possible with reference to such a data. Such data does not help the researcher in any manner. Hence processing of such data and tabulation of data are absolutely essential. Data processing makes data useful for analysis and interpretation. Data processing involves many steps such as editing, coding, classification and tabulation. It is a cycle of steps. Such data processing makes data ready for analysis and interpretation. Data processing is next to data collection. It is an intermediary stage between the data collection and interpretation. Data collected from different sources are totally unorganized in nature. Such data needs to be processed for analysis and interpretation.

Meaning of data processing:

Data processing means eliminating all irrelevant data and retaining only useful data. It is a process of arranging collected data in a compact manner for further use. Processing of data gives proper form to the data so that it can be used for analysis and interpretation. The processing of data is a type of office work which can be attended to by the office staff under the guidance of researcher. Data processing involves many steps. The important among them are as noted below: 1. 2. 3. 4. Editing of data Coding of data Classification of data Tabulation of data

It may be pointed out that data collected through completed questionnaires are raw data which cannot be used directly for tabulation, for detailed analysis and finally for drawing conclusions. Such data may not be consistent, relevant and useful for drawing conclusions. Such collected data can not directly provide answers to research questions. They need processing to make them amenable to analysis and interpretation. In short, it is necessary to organize such data in a systematic manner for tabulation and detailed analysis. In the absence of processing of data, the analysis of data will be defective, the conclusions drawn may not be reliable and the recommendations made may not be useful for solving the marketing problem faced by the sponsoring company. Thus, processing of data is a must in the marketing research process. Processing of data is an important step in the research process. It is rightly said that filled questionnaires is a huge body of raw data. This means completed questionnaires by respondents provide huge information but in a raw of

unorganized form. It cannot be used directly for tabulation and analysis. Such raw data need further processing so as to make it reliable and suitable for tabulation and detailed analysis. For processing such data, editing coding classification and tabulation are required. Such steps make the data reliable and useful for further processing and detailed analysis for drawing conclusions. In brief, data collected through questionnaire constitute a huge body of raw data which cannot be used directly. Data processing requires advance planning at the stage of planning of research design. This facilitates systematic processing of data in due course.

(a) Editing of data:

Meaning and features of editing of data: Editing of data is next to data collection by different methods such as observation, interview, mail survey and so on. Processing means testing or checking of data as regards validity and usefulness for further processing. The first task in data processing is editing. Editing is the process of eliminating errors in the raw data collected so that the data may subsequently undergo tabulation and classification. Editing is the process by which data are prepared for subsequent coding. In the editing work the researcher ensures that the instructions given to the investigators are followed properly and that the data for further processing are accurate uniform and complete in all respects. It is an important step in the data processing cycle. The purpose of editing is to eliminate errors or known bias and to prepare data for subsequent coding tabulation and analysis. Editing ensures accuracy consistency completeness and uniformity of data for further processing. In fact, editing coding and classification take place simultaneously or concurrently. Editing of data is a skilled job. An editor should be well versed with the editing of questionnaire. The procedure of editing should be laid down clearly before the commencement of editing work particularly when more than one editor is required. Enumerators with long experience and special attitude for editing of data should be given preference for editing work of data collected.

Need of editing of data:

1. To check accuracy of data: edting of data is needed in order to check the accuracy and completeness of collected data and also for eliminating errors or known bias. Fictitiousness in interviews can be minimized through random editing. Similarly contradictions in the information supplied can be checked through editing of data. 2. To remove errors: editing of data is needed in order to remove errors in the data collection and to prepare the available data for classification and tabulation.

3. To improve quality of data: editing of data is needed in order to improve the quality of data and also for improving the quality of findings and recommendations for policy decisions. 4. To evaluate the performance of field staff: editing of data is needed for evaluating the performance of the field personnel, soundness of the questionnaire and the entire survey work. 5. To take uniform decisions on incorrect answers: editing of data is needed in order to take uniform decisions relating to incorrect answers, incomplete answers and dont know answers recorded in the questionnaires by the investigators.

(B) Procedure of data editing

The ultimate purpose of data editing is to see that data selected for analysis is accurate, complete, uniform, consistent and relevant. In editing, decision is taken as regards answers which are ncorrect and incomplete. Such answers mau be rejected or accepted by changing them in a suitable manner. Editors are usually supposed to deal with five types of answers recorded by the interviewers but in a uniform manner. Such answers are: 1. The incorrect answerIf the mistake in the answer is minor the editor may edit it. However, if the answer is false to a significant extent, the editor has to delte the entire answer. Answers given incorrectly due to ignorance, carelessness or lack of understanding can be corrected after the study of answers given to other questions. If there is complete lack of understanding of the questionnaire the whole questionnaire should be rejected. 2. The incomplete answerVery little editing work is possible if the answer is incomplete. If the answer is related to other question in the questionnaire the missing data may be filled in on the basis of the information given in other questions. Incomplete answers should be completed by the editors only when they are very sure as to what the respondents want to communicate. 3. The inconsistent answerThe editor has to use his judgement to decide which answer os correct and adjust all other answers accordingly. He can treat one answer as correct and adjust other answer accordingly. This brings consistency due to editing. 4. The dont know answer or no reply answerIf such replies are limited and insignificant from the point of view of survey work they should be ignored. If they are large in number, then one of the following three options can be used: y Distribute the dont know randomly among the other categories.

Show the dont know or no reply as a regular category in addition to the existing ones. y Estimate the possible answers from the other data available in the questionnaire. 5. The answer not available in standard form: y In this case, the respondent gives answer to the question but not in the specific unit of measurement. The quantity/ units noted in the answer are different from the units specified. Here, the editor has to standardize the answer. Such edited answer should be treated as complete and correct answer.

(C) Types of data editing

There are two types of data editing: 1. Field editing: Field editing means editing of data during the process of field survey itself. This work is normally given to interviewers and their supervisors when the data collection work is in progress. The interviewers can do such editing work while noting the information immediately after the interview. An interviewer has to see that his completed questionnaires are clear, specific, and correct. He can check the answers and verify them immediately and can minimize the editing work at the supervisors level. Field editing is also possible at the supervisors level. He can find out the eroors in the completed questionnaires and get them corrected by the help of the interviewers. 2. Office editing: Office editing also known as central editing is possible when all questionnaires are collected at the head office for tabulation. In the office this work can be given to the team of editors with detailed instructions as regards the rules and procedures of editing work. They should be trained properly in the editing work. Office editing is more systematic and uniform in nature. The purpose of office editing is to make the data ready for further processing.