Collection of Data

Research on the following topics and submit in handwritten in a bond paper.

• Methods of Data Collection

Observation Method
Observation method is used when the study relates to behavioural science. This method is
planned systematically. It is subject to many controls and checks. The different types of
observations are:
 Structured and unstructured observation
 Controlled and uncontrolled observation
 Participant, non-participant and disguised observation
Interview Method
The method of collecting data in terms of oral or verbal responses. It is achieved in two ways,
such as
 Personal Interview – In this method, a person known as an interviewer is required to ask
questions face to face to the other person. The personal interview can be structured or
unstructured, direct investigation, focused conversation, etc.
 Telephonic Interview – In this method, an interviewer obtains information by contacting
people on the telephone to ask the questions or views orally.
Questionnaire Method
In this method, the set of questions are mailed to the respondent. They should read, reply and
subsequently return the questionnaire. The questions are printed in the definite order on the form.
A good survey should have the following features:
 Short and simple
 Should follow a logical sequence
 Provide adequate space for answers
 Avoid technical terms
 Should have good physical appearance such as colour, quality of the paper to attract the
attention of the respondent
Schedules
This method is similar to the questionnaire method with a slight difference. The enumerations
are specially appointed for the purpose of filling the schedules. It explains the aims and objects
of the investigation and may remove misunderstandings, if any have come up. Enumerators
should be trained to perform their job with hard work and patience.

• Planning and Conducting Surveys

1.1 Definition, Categories, and Purpose of Surveying
Definition
Surveying is the process of determining the relative position of natural and manmade features
on or under the earth’s surface, the presentation of this information
 either graphically in the form of plans or numerically in the form of tables, and the
setting out of measurements on the earth’s surface. It usually involves
measurement, calculations, the production of plans, and the determination of
specific locations.

A survey is a research method used for collecting data from a predefined group of
respondents to gain information and insights into various topics of interest. … The process
involves asking people for information through a questionnaire, which can be either online
or offline.

Categories
 Questionnaires are usually paper-and-pencil instruments that the respondent
completes.

 Interviews are completed by the interviewer based on the respondent says. … Your
hotel room has a survey on the desk.

What is the main purpose of a survey? 

Surveys are used to gather or gain knowledge in fields such as social research and
demography. Survey research is often used to assess thoughts, opinions and feelings. Surveys
can be specific and limited, or they can have more global, widespread goals.
Considering this, What is the main objective of surveys?
OBJECTIVE OF SURVEYING:
The aim of surveying is to prepare a map to show the relative positions of the objects on the
surface of the earth. To collect field data. To prepare plan or map of the area surveyed. To
analyze and calculate the field parameters for setting out operation of actual engineering works .
1.2 Planning a Survey

The success of a survey starts with an intense, detailed and comprehensive planning. Before
you conduct a survey, you need to begin with brainstorming about the purpose of the
survey, the goals and objectives, the creation of questions, and other important details
included in utilizing the survey method.

Defining Goals
Survey goals encompass the very purpose of conducting a survey. Having these goals, you will
be able to create the right questions for the right participants. Survey goals will direct you to
the type of survey you have to use and the type of survey administration you have to do. The
survey goals also provide hints on the appropriate sample size of your survey, as well as the
inclusion and exclusion criteria in terms of answering the question: “To whom should I
administer the survey?”
Participant Selection
Based on the survey goals or the purpose of conducting the survey, choose the participants that
will be able to effectively represent the general population. In this step of the planning phase,
you should be able to determine the inclusion and exclusion criteria so only the right people can
be included in the target group. For instance, if you want to do a survey about teen mothers, you
should eliminate women who bore children at the age of 20 and above.
Schedule Setting
Conduct the survey in a time-bounded fashion by means of planning out a schedule. First, start
with setting a date for the creating of questions. Then, set a time frame for the standardization
and/or revision of the survey. After this, mark your calendar for the period of administering the
surveys to the participants. Next, schedule the date for tallying, summarizing and analyzing the
results of the survey.
Budget Planning
When planning a survey successfully, budget allocation should be settled. When preparing for
the budget, consider first the number of people that will participate in the survey. This will give
you a good estimate of how much money is needed for the reproduction of the survey.
In terms of the questions, using a standardized survey for the study may or may not require
money. This depends on whether the creator of the survey allows the free use of the
questionnaire or obliges payment for it. On the other hand, creating your own survey and having
it standardized or verified may require payments.
Another thing that needs to be considered in planning for the budget includes the time period of
conducting the survey. If you are to have a survey of a very large target group, you must set
aside a budget for the compensation of people who will help you administer the survey
How to Conduct a Survey
There are a variety of ways through which a survey can be conducted. Each method of
conducting surveys present their own advantages and disadvantages which are to be considered
and weighed carefully before the actual execution of administering the survey. In addition to the
method of administration, there are other factors that may influence the response rates and results
of the survey.
Methods of Administering Survey
1. Personal Approach
Pros: Questions on the survey that are asked directly to the respondent by the researcher usually
produces good response rates if visual materials are required during the survey. This also
provides a great opportunity for the researcher to observe the participants.
Cons: There’s a higher chance of bias due to the interaction between the respondent and the
interviewer. The principle of anonymity is also lost. It is neither ideal if the participants are
located in different geographical areas.
2 . Telephone Survey
Pros: This method can be used for asking consequential questions. It provides anonymity better
than face-to-face interviews.
Cons: Telephone surveys are not ideal for data gathering which requires the participants to see a
visual material. In addition, telephone calls for survey purposes are not appropriate if long
questions are to be asked.

• Planning and Conducting Experiments: Introduction to Design of Experiments

WHAT IS DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS (DOE)?

Design of experiments (DOE) is defined as a branch of applied statistics that deals with planning,
conducting, analyzing, and interpreting controlled tests to evaluate the factors that control the
value of a parameter or group of parameters. DOE is a powerful data collection and analysis
tool that can be used in a variety of experimental situations.

It allows for multiple input factors to be manipulated, determining their effect on a desired output
(response). By manipulating multiple inputs at the same time, DOE can identify important
interactions that may be missed when experimenting with one factor at a time. All possible
combinations can be investigated (full factorial) or only a portion of the possible combinations
(fractional factorial).

Many of the current statistical approaches to designed experiments originate from the work of R.
A. Fisher in the early part of the 20th century. Fisher demonstrated how taking the time to
seriously consider the design and execution of an experiment before trying it helped avoid
frequently encountered problems in analysis. Key concepts in creating a designed experiment
include blocking, randomization, and replication.

 Blocking: When randomizing a factor is impossible or too costly, blocking lets you

restrict randomization by carrying out all of the trials with one setting of the factor and
then all the trials with the other setting.
 Randomization: Refers to the order in which the trials of an experiment are performed.
A randomized sequence helps eliminate effects of unknown or uncontrolled variables.
 Replication: Repetition of a complete experimental treatment, including the setup.

A well-performed experiment may provide answers to questions such as:

 What are the key factors in a process?

 At what settings would the process deliver acceptable performance?
 What are the key, main, and interaction effects in the process?
 What settings would bring about less variation in the output?

A repetitive approach to gaining knowledge is encouraged, typically involving these consecutive

steps:

1. A screening design that narrows the field of variables under assessment.

2. A "full factorial" design that studies the response of every combination of factors and
factor levels, and an attempt to zone in on a region of values where the process is close
to optimization.
3. A response surface designed to model the response. 

WHEN TO USE DOE

Use DOE when more than one input factor is suspected of influencing an output. For example, it
may be desirable to understand the effect of temperature and pressure on the strength of a glue
bond.
DOE can also be used to confirm suspected input/output relationships and to develop a predictive
equation suitable for performing what-if analysis.
Steps for Planning, Conducting and Analyzing an Experiment
The practical steps needed for planning and conducting an experiment include: recognizing the
goal of the experiment, choice of factors, choice of response, choice of the design, analysis and
then drawing conclusions. This pretty much covers the steps involved in the scientific method.
1. Recognition and statement of the problem
 2. Choice of factors, levels, and ranges
3. Selection of the response variable(s)
4. Choice of design
5. Conducting the experiment
6. Statistical analysis
7. Drawing conclusions, and making recommendations
What this course will deal with primarily is the choice of the design. This focus includes all the
related issues about how we handle these factors in conducting our experiments.
Factors
There are other ways that we can categorize factors:
Experimental vs. Classification Factors
Experimental Factors
These are factors that you can specify (and set the levels) and then assign at random as the
treatment to the experimental units. Examples would be temperature, level of an additive
fertilizer amount per acre, etc.SampleText
Classification Factors
These can't be changed or assigned, these come as labels on the experimental units. The age and
sex of the participants are classification factors which can't be changed or randomly assigned.
But you can select individuals from these groups randomly.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Factors
Quantitative Factors
You can assign any specified level of a quantitative factor. Examples: percent or pH level of a
chemical.
Qualitative Factors
These factors have categories which are different types. Examples might be species of a plant or
animal, a brand in the marketing field, gender, - these are not ordered or continuous but are
arranged perhaps in sets.

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REFERENCES:
https://byjus.com/maths/data-collection-methods/
https://motivationjob.com/advices-skills/what-is-the-main-purpose-of-a-survey/
https://explorable.com/planning-a-survey?gid=1576
https://asq.org/quality-resources/design-of-experiments
https://online.stat.psu.edu/stat503/lesson/1/1.3