Data Collection

& Method of Collecting Primary Data

Introduction
Reliability of Management Decisions depends on the quality of data. The quality of data can be expressed in terms of representative feature of reality which can be ensure by the usage of a fitting a data collection method. Primary Data: The data which be collected from the field under the control & supervision of an investigator is known as Primary Data. This type of datas are generally fresh data & colleted for first time.
Examples 1. The data collected using survey determine a market segment of product of the company. 2. The census data of country is a primary data to find out the size of population.

Methods of collecting Primary Data

Observation Method Personnel Interview Telephonic Interview Mail Survey Questionnaire Design

Observation Method
Investigator collects data through personnel observation Deals with recording of the behavior of respondents
Example: Continuous monitoring of stock exchange index

Personal Interview
Survey which employs a questionnaire
Classification of personal interview:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Door to Door Interview Executive Interview Mall Intercept Interview Self Administrator Interview Purchase Intercept Technique

Telephone Interview
Interview which conducts through inline communication
Advantages:
1. 2. 3. Time & Cost Saving Possibility of reach to the customers all over the geography Elimination of non responsive problem like personal interview

Draw backs:
1. 2. Impossible to employ visual aids Possibility of discontinue of conversation

Mail Survey
Data collection method in which questionnaire are mailed to potential respondents who in turn fill and return them at their convenience.
Advantages:
1. 2. 3. 4. Less cost & Less time of data collection Wider coverage of data collection Better accuracy of data Absence of interviewers bias

Drawbacks:
1. Identity of respondents is not known to the interviewers 2. Questionnaire may be filled by the other persons than actual respondent 3. Some respondents may not return filled-in questionnaires

Questionnaire Design
The set of well formulated questions to probe & obtain response from respondents
Types of Questionnaire designs:
1. 2. Open-ended questions Close-ended questions