MODULE 2: DATA COLLECTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS IN SAMPLING DESIGN
I.) DATA COLLECTION - is the process of gathering
and measuring information on variables of
interest, in an established systematic fashion
that enables one to answer stated research
questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate
outcomes.
 Without proper data collection planning, many
problems can occur. If the data collection steps and
processes are not properly planned, the research
project can ultimately end up with a data set that
does not serve its intended purpose. For example, if
more than one person is involved in the data
collection, but data collectors do not follow
consistent data collection practices, they can end up
with data with different units, collection processes,
and variable names.
a.) Consequences from Improperly Collected Data
• Inability to answer research questions accurately.
• Inability to repeat and validate the study.
• Distorted findings resulting in wasted resources.
• Misleading other researchers to pursue fruitless
avenues of investigation.
• Compromising decisions for public policy.
• Causing harm to human participants and animal
subjects.
b.) Steps in Data Gathering
1. Set the objectives for collecting data
2. Determine the data needed based on the set
objectives.
3. Determine the method to be used in data
gathering and define the comprehensive data
collection points.
4. Design data gathering forms to be used.
5. Collect data.
Choosing of Method of Data Collection
Decision-makers need information that is
relevant, timely, accurate and usable. The cost
of obtaining, processing, and analyzing these
data is high. The challenge is to find ways, which
lead to information that is cost-effective,
relevant, timely and important for immediate
use. Some methods pay attention to timeliness
and reduction in cost. Others pay attention to
accuracy and the strength of the method in
using science.
c.) Sources of Data
Whether conducting research in the social sciences,
humanities arts, or natural sciences, the ability to
distinguish between primary and secondary sources
is essential.
1.) Primary Sources - Provide a first-hand account of
an event or time period and are considered to be
authoritative. They represent original thinking,
report on discoveries or events, or they can share
new information. Often these sources are created at
the time the events occurred, but they can also
include sources that are created later. They are
usually the first formal appearance of original
research.
 Primary Data are data documented by the primary
source. The data collectors documented the data
themselves. The first-hand information obtained by
the investigator is more reliable and accurate since
the investigator can extract the correct information
by removing doubts, if any, in the minds of the
respondents regarding certain questions. High
response rates might be obtained since the answers
to various questions are obtained on the spot. It
permits explanation of questions concerning
difficult subject matter.
Examples: Creative works (paintings, movie reels, music
etc.), Diaries, Experiments performed by you, the
researcher, Letters, Surveys and censuses, Interviews.
2.) Secondary Sources - offer an analysis, interpretation
or a restatement of primary sources and are
considered to be persuasive. They often involve
generalization, synthesis, interpretation,
commentary, or evaluation in an attempt to
convince the reader of the creator's argument. They
often attempt to describe or explain primary
sources.
 Secondary Data are data documented by a
secondary source. The data collectors had the data
documented by other sources. In secondary data,
data are primary data for the agency that collected
them and become secondary for someone else who
uses these data for his own purposes. Secondary
data are less expensive to collect both in money and
time. These data can also be better utilized and
sometimes the quality of such data may be better
because these might have been collected by
persons who were specially trained for that
purpose.
Examples: Encyclopedias, Essays, Newspaper
opinion pieces, Reviews, Textbooks.
On the other hand, such data must be used with great
care, because such data may also be full of errors due to
the fact that the purpose of the collection of the data by
the primary agency may have been different from the
purpose of the user of these secondary data. Secondly,
there may have been bias introduced, the size of the
sample may have been inadequate, or there may have
been arithmetic or definition errors, hence, it is
necessary to critically investigate the validity of the
secondary data.

COMPARISON CHART
The primary data can be collected by the following five
methods:
1. Direct personal interviews - The researcher has
direct contact with the interviewee. The researcher
gathers information by asking questions to the
interviewee.
2. Indirect/Questionnaire Method - This methods of
data collection involve sourcing and accessing
existing data that were originally collected for the
purpose of the study.
3. A focus group is a group interview of
approximately six to twelve people who share
similar characteristics or common interests. A
facilitator guides the group based on a
predetermined set of topics.
4. The experiment is a method of collecting data
where there is direct human intervention on the
conditions that may affect the values of the variable
of interest.
5. Observation is a technique that involves
systematically selecting, watching and recoding
behaviors of people or other phenomena and
aspects of the setting in which they occur, for the
purpose of getting (gaining) specified information.
Key Design Principles of a Good
Questionnaire
1. Keep the questionnaire as short as possible.
2. Decide on the type of questionnaire (Open Ended
or Closed Ended).
3. Write the questions properly.
4. Order the questions appropriately.
5. Avoid questions that prompt or motivate the
respondent to say what you would like to hear.
6. Write an introductory letter or an introduction.
7. Write special instructions for interviewers or
respondents.
8. Translate the questions if necessary.
9. Always test your questions before taking the
survey. (Pre-test)
Designing good “questioning tools” forms an
important and time-consuming phase in the
development of most research proposals. Once the
decision has been made to use these techniques,
the following questions should be considered before
designing our tools:
• What exactly do we want to know, according to
the objectives and variables we identified earlier? Is
questioning the right technique to obtain all
answers, or do we need additional techniques, such
as observations or analysis of records?
• Of whom will we ask questions and what
techniques will we use? Do we understand the topic
sufficiently to design a questionnaire, or do we need
some loosely structured interviews with key
informants or a focus group discussion first to orient
ourselves?
• Are our informants mainly literate or illiterate? If
illiterate, the use of self-administered
questionnaires is not an option.
•How large is the sample that will be interviewed?
Studies with many respondents often use shorter,
highly structured questionnaires, whereas smaller
studies allow more flexibility and may use
questionnaires with a number of open-ended
questions.
An OPEN-ENDED QUESTION is a type of question
that does not include response categories. The
respondent is not given any possible answers to
choose from. This type of question is usually
appropriate for collecting subjective data. It permit
free responses that should be recorded in the
respondent’s own words.
Example:
 Can you describe exactly what the traditional birth
attendant did when your labor started?
 What do you like most about this product?
 Was anything disappointing about this product?
 If someone asked you about our product, what
would you say to them?
A CLOSED-ENDED QUESTION is a type of question that
includes a list of response categories from which the
respondent will select his answer. It is useful if the range
of possible responses is known. This type of question is
usually appropriate for collecting objective data.
Example:
 What year were you born?
  On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you?
 Which university did you attend?
 How often do use public transport?

1. Likert Scale Multiple Choice Questions

These closed ended questions typically are 5 pointer or

above scale questions where the respondent is required
to complete the questionnaire that needs them to
indicate the extent to which they agree or disagree.

2. Rating Scale Multiple Choice Questions

These close ended survey questions require the

respondents to assign a fixed value in response, usually
numeric. The number of scale points depends on what
sort of questions a researcher is asking.

3. Checklist type Multiple Choice Questions

This type of closed ended question expects the

respondents to make choices from the many options
that have been stated, the respondent can choose one
or more options depending on the question being
asked.

4. Rank Order Multiple Choice Question

These closed-ended questions come with multiple

options from which the respondent can choose based
on their preference from most preferred to least
preferred (usually in bullet points).

The secondary data can be collected by the

following five methods:

1. Published report on newspaper and

periodicals.
2. Financial Data reported in annual reports.
3. Records maintained by the institution.
4. Internal reports of the government
departments.
5. Information from official publications.