 What is data?

 Types of data
1. On the basis of origin
2. On the basis of variable
3. On the basis of sources
4. On the basis of Scale of measurement
5. On the basis of time

 Some basic concepts need before “data collection”

Population (finite and infinite), Sample, Sampling, Sampling Frame, Sample Size, Parameter and
Statistics.

 Methods of “data collection”

1. Census or Complete enumeration (Advantage & Disadvantage).
2. Sample Survey (Advantage & Disadvantage).
 What is data?
Data are individual pieces of factual information which is used for the
purposes of analysis.
or, A set of observations obtained from a particular enquiry is called data or
a data set. A single observation is called datum (data in plural).

Example:
i. Income of workers.
ii. Examination marks of students in a class
iii. IQ scores of students, etc.

Raw data are unorganized facts and figures in any field of enquiry.
 Types of Data
On the basis of origin, data may be obtain from
Population
Data
Sample

Population: A population is the collection of all items of interest in a

particular study. Example, marks obtained by all students in a class.
Sample: A sample is a small representative fraction of a population.
Example, marks obtained by 25% students of a class.
 Types of Data
On the basis of variable, all data can be classified as two general types;

a)Qualitative Variable
Variable Discrete variable
b)Quantitative Variable
Continuous Variable

Variable: Measurable characteristics of a population that may vary from element to

element or unit to unit either in magnitude or in quality.

a) Qualitative Variable: Some variables, which express the quality of population

elements, can not be numerically measured but can be classified or categorized
according to their quality is called qualitative variable. Example: Gender (male or
female), Religion (Islam, Hindu, Christian & Buddhist), types of farmers (small,
medium or large) etc. Also known as attribute.
b) Quantitative Variable: Variable characteristics, whose values are expressed
numerically, are known as quantitative variables. Example, height or weight of
students, number of students per class, monthly income or expenditure of students,
monthly export/import for a fiscal year.

i. Discrete variable: Some variables can take only integral values e.g. number of
students per class, number of babies born per day for last two months, number of
children per family of 150 families etc. are called discrete variable.

ii. Continuous variable: A variable which can assume any value integral or fractional
within specified limit is called continuous variable. Example, height or weight of
students, monthly income or expenditure of students.
 Variable

ID No. Gender Age Educational Level Income Level

05 Female 24 Bachelor's 47,000

10 Female 45 Diploma 35,000

14 Male 26 Master’s 55,000

17 Female 16 HSC 25, 000

20 Male 37 Doctorate 95, 000

 Types of Data
On the basis of sources,
Data

Primary Secondary

1. Primary data: Primary data is data that is collected by a researcher from first-
hand sources, using methods like surveys, interviews, or experiments. It is
collected with the research project in mind, directly from primary sources.

2. Secondary data: Secondary data is data gathered from studies, surveys, or

experiments that have been run by other people or for other research. e.g.
Bangladesh bureau of statistics, Bangladesh Economic Review, published research
articles or books.
 Types of Data
On the basis of Scale of measurement, according to different level of
measurements data are also known as

Data

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio

1. Nominal data: When numbers or certain symbols are used to identify the group to
which objects under observation belong, these numbers or symbols constitute the
nominal data. One category of variable is not higher or lower, greater or smaller than
others category.
Example, Jersey no., ID/NID no., mobile no., Sex (male or female); Religion (Muslim,
Hindu, Buddhist & Christian) etc.
2. Ordinal data: When numbers reflect the rank order of the individuals or objects or when
there is an ordered relationship among the categories, called ordinal data. One category of
variable is higher or lower than others category, but can’t specify how much the former is
greater than later.
Examples, Exam Grade (A>B>C); Level of Education (Phd>MS>Hons>HSC>SSC); Health
Status (Good>Average>Poor) etc.

3. Interval data: An interval data is one where the distance ( or interval) between any two
categories is known and constant. That means, one category of variable is higher or lower
than others category, in addition can specify how much the former is greater than later. It
doesn’t have a true zero point.
Example, Centigrade and Fahrenheit Scale; IQ Test Score; Calendar Time (3 PM, 6 PM) etc.

4. Ratio data: Ratio data have all the ordering and distance properties of interval data. In
addition, a ‘zero point’ can be meaningfully designated.
Example, Height (in cm); weight (in gm); Distance (in km); Age etc.
 Types of Data
On the basis of time, data may be classified as
Data

Cross Sectional Data Time Series Data Panel Data

1. Cross Sectional Data: Data are

called cross-section when they are
collected by observing many subjects
(such as individuals, items, firms,
countries, or regions) at the one point
or period of time. e.g. salary of
workers of a factory for the month of
July, 2020.
2. Time Series Data: A time series data is a set of observations on a quantitative
characteristics of an individual taken at different points of time. e.g. year wise price of
onion for last 10 years, year wise production of tea for last 50 years etc.

Bangladesh GDP Growth Rate2010-2019 Data

Year GDP growth rate
2010 5.57
2011 6.46
2012 6.52
2013 6.01
2014 6.06
2015 6.56
2016 7.1
2017 7.6
2018 7.9
2019 8.2
1. Panel Data: This is mixed of time series and cross-sectional data. e.g. year-
wise production of different crops of a country.
 Panel Data

Trends in export of selected agricultural commodities by Bangladesh, 1993/94 to 2014/15