WEEK 4-6 LESSONS: COLLECTION OF DATA

Objectives:
The student should be able to
1. Distinguish between primary and secondary data
2. Discuss the different methods of collecting data
3. Identify the different sampling technique

Discussion:
Sources of Data
Sources of Data can be classified into 2 types. Statistical sources refer to data that are gathered
for some official purposes and incorporate censuses and officially administered surveys. Non-
statistical sources refer to the collection of data for other administrative purposes or for the
private sector.

What are the different sources of data?

Following are the two sources of data:
1. Internal Source

 When data are collected from reports and records of the organization itself, it is known
as the internal source.
 For example, a company publishes its ‘Annual Report’ on Profit and Loss, Total Sales,
Loans, Wages etc.
2. External Source

 When data are collected from outside the organization, it is known as the external
source.
 For example, if a Tour and Travels Company obtains information on ‘Karnataka Tourism’
from Karnataka Transport Corporation, it would be known as external sources of data.

Types of Data
A) Primary Data

 Primary data means ‘First-hand information’ collected by an investigator.

 It is collected for the first time.
 It is original and more reliable.
 For example Population census conducted by the government of India after every 10
years.
B) Secondary Data

 Secondary data refers to ‘Second-hand information’.

  These are not originally collected rather obtained from already published or unpublished
sources.
 For example the Address of a person taken from the Telephone Directory or Phone
number of a company taken from ‘Just Dial’.

Methods of Collecting Data

The system of data collection is based on the type of study being conducted. Depending on the
researcher’s research plan and design, there are several ways data can be collected.

The most commonly used methods are: published literature sources, surveys (email and mail),
interviews (telephone, face-to-face or focus group), observations, documents and records, and
experiments.

1. Literature sources

This involves the collection of data from already published text available in the public domain.
Literature sources can include: textbooks, government or private companies’ reports,
newspapers, magazines, online published papers and articles.

This method of data collection is referred to as secondary data collection. In comparison to

primary data collection, this is inexpensive and not time consuming.

2. Surveys

Survey is another method of gathering information for research purposes. Information are
gathered through questionnaire, mostly based on individual or group experiences regarding a
particular phenomenon.

There are several ways by which this information can be collected. Most notable ways are: web-
based questionnaire and paper-based questionnaire (printed form). The results of this method of
data collection are generally easy to analyze.

3. Interviews

Interview is a qualitative method of data collection whose results are based on intensive
engagement with respondents about a particular study. Usually, interviews are used in order to
collect in-depth responses from the professionals being interviewed.

Interview can be structured (formal), semi-structured or unstructured (informal). In essence, an

interview method of data collection can be conducted through face-to-face meeting with the
interviewee(s) or through telephone.

4. Observations

Observation method of information gathering is used by monitoring participants in a specific

situation or environment at a given time and day. Basically, researchers observe the behavior of
the surrounding environments or people that are being studied. This type of study can
be controlled, natural or participant.
Controlled observation is when the researcher uses a standardized procedure of observing
participants or the environment. Natural observation is when participants are being observed in
their natural conditions. Participant observation is where the researcher becomes part of the
group being studied.

5. Documents and records

This is the process of examining existing documents and records of an organization for tracking
changes over a period of time. Records can be tracked by examining call logs, email logs,
databases, minutes of meetings, staff reports, information logs, etc.

For instance, an organization may want to understand why there are lots of negative reviews and
complains from customer about its products or services. In this case, the organization will look
into records of their products or services and recorded interaction of employees with customers.

6. Experiments

Experimental research is a research method where the causal relationship between two

variables are being examined. One of the variables can be manipulated, and the other is
measured. These two variables are classified as dependent and independent variables.

In experimental research, data are mostly collected based on the cause and effect of the two
variables being studied. This type of research are common among medical researchers, and it
uses quantitative research approach.

Sample Size Formula

Most of the time population is used simultaneously with sample but these two are actually
different terms. Population is the complete set of individuals or subject while sample is just a
representative of the whole population. The elements in a sample are drawn from the population.

How to get the sample size?

N
n=
1+ N e2
Where n = sample size

N = population

e = margin of error

Example: A researcher wants to conduct a study in a university with 10,000 students. If

he wants to achieve 90% precision, how many students must he take as his sample?

Given: N = 10,000; e = 10%

 N 10,000
Solution: n = 2 =
1+ N e 1+(10,000)(0.102 )

= 99 students

Sampling Technique
In the collection of data, the number of sample and the nature of sample to be chosen are
very critical for the study to have reliable result. In the part of his chapter, we will discuss the
different ways on how to choose samples.

1. Probability Sampling
This sampling technique is also called the simple random sampling. In
this technique, the samples are randomly picked and therefore the selection of
sample is without +any bias. Each member of the population has an equal chance
of being picked as part of the sample. A good example of this sampling are the
lottery and raffle.

2. Restricted Random Sampling

This is often times used when the population to be considered is too
large. There are two types of restricted random sampling summarized
follows:

a. Systematic Sampling. The selection of sample is done by picking every

k th element of the population. The k th element in the population is obtained
using the given formula below:

N
k th = Population ¿ ¿ Sample ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ =
n

Example:A researcher wants to conduct a study in a university with

10,000 students with 90% precision. If he used systematic sampling, find
the k th member he must include in his sample.

Given: N = 10,000; n = 99 (obtained from the previous problem)

10,000
th
Solution: k = N ¿ ¿ = 99

= 101.
Thus, every 101st member of the population was picked.
 b. Stratified Sampling. The population is divided into strata (groups) based
on their homogeneity or commonalities. The steps in doing the stratified
sampling are as follows:
(1) Determine the distribution of the population in each stratum;
(2) Find the percentage of each stratum from the population;
(3) Multiply the percentage of each stratum by the sample size (n).

Example: In a certain study, 200 samples are taken from the population
of 50,000 individuals. The population is divided into strata based on their
schools. Using stratified sampling we have:

Strata Distribution of Percentage from Sample Units

Population the Population Per Stratum

UST 15,000 30% 60

UP 10,000 20% 40

NU 25,000 50% 100

Total 50,000 100% 200

3. Cluster Sampling

This technique is frequently applied on geographical basis when the

population from which a sample is to be selected includes
heterogeneous groups.

4. Non-random Sampling

In this technique, not all the population has equal chance to be selected.
The selection is influenced by the goal of the researcher. There are three
forms of non-random sampling:

a. Purposive Sampling. The samples are chosen based on purpose or

certain criteria. For example, in a population of college students, you are
studying the effects of being sporty in the academic performance. The
possibility is that you will choose the athletes of the university by purpose.
Or let us say for example, you want to know the modern ways of college
students in courting a girl. You will need to choose the male part of the
population.

b. Quota Sampling. In this technique, a certain limit is preestablished to

determine who among the population can be part of the sample. A good
 example of this is the determination of the students who can qualify in a
university. An admission test will be the basis and a quota rule is already
stated even before the exam. For example, the top 5% of the examinees
shall be admitted by the university.

c. Convenience Sampling. The sample is selected based on the example,

the researcher is doing a study about the performance of Universities in
the Philippines. If the researcher lives near Manila, he has the option to
take the universities in Manila as samples.

Name:__________________________________________________Score:____________
Name of Teacher:_________________________________________Date:_____________
Course/Year/Section:______________________________________

Exercise 2.1
Sampling Data
Solve for what is asked in each question.
1. How many sample units must be obtained from 7,000 employees, if 10% margin
of error is used?
 2. Find the precision of a certain study if a sample of 200 cars is used over a
population of 15,300 cars.

Name:__________________________________________________Score:____________
Name of Teacher:_________________________________________Date:_____________
Course/Year/Section:______________________________________

Exercise 2.2

Sampling Technique

Solve for what is asked in each question.

1. In a population of 30,000 Chinoy, the researcher wants to select 315 samples to be

interviewed. If the researcher aims an 85% precision, and wants to use the systematic
sampling, the every k th individual must be taken from the population. Find k.

2. Determine the number of samples that can be selected from a population of 17,500
people in every 301st person is taken as part of the sample.