COLLECTION OF DATA

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY

DATA
CLASSIFICATION AND
TYPES
Surya S
19pbo022
II M.Sc. Botany
DATA
Data is any information in raw or
organized form using alphabets ,
numbers or symbols that refers to
or represents preferences, ideas,
objects, traits, categories etc.
IMPORTANCE OF DATA AND DATA
 Data is one of theCOLLECTION
most important and vital aspect of any
research study.
 The methodology of researches conducted in different fields
of study may be different but every research is based on data
which is analyzed and interpreted to get information.
 Data is the basic unit in statistical studies. Statistical
information like census, population variables, health statistics
etc, are all developed from data.
DATA COLLECTION
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
 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
DATA
 Data sources are broadly classified into
primary and secondary data.
TYPES:
 PRIMARY DATA - collected by the
researcher himself
 SECONDARY DATA - collected by
others to be"re-used" by the researcher
 PRIMARY DATA
 Data that has been collected from first-hand-sources by surveys,
observation or experimentation is known as primary data.
 Primary data has not been published yet and is derived from a
new or original research study thus is more reliable, authentic
and objective.
 Primary data has not been changed or altered by human beings,
therefore its validity is greater than secondary data
 IMPORTANCE AND SOURCES
OF PRIMARY DATA
 Research based on only secondary data is least reliable and may
have biases because secondary data has already been manipulated
by human beings. In statistical surveys it is necessary to get
information from primary sources and work on primary data.
 Sources are limited and at times it becomes difficult to obtain data
from primary source either because of scarcity of population or
lack of cooperation.
SOURCES OF PRIMARY DATA
COLLECTION
 Observation method
 Experiment
 Interviews
 Questionnaire
 Schedule
 Through agencies
 Survey
Observation method
 Observation method is a method
under which data from the field
is collected with the help of
observation by the observer or
by personally going to the field.
Experiments
 Experiments require an artificial or natural setting to
perform logical study to collect data. These are more
suitable for medicine, psychological studies, nutrition etc.
 In experiments the experimenter has to keep control over
the influence of any extraneous variable on the results.
Interview
 This method of collecting data involves
presentation of oral-verbal stimuli and reply in
terms of oral- verbal responses. Interviewer asks
questions (which are aimed to get information
required for study) to respondent.
 Direct Personal Interview – Data is personally
collected by the interviewer.
 Telephonic interviews - Data is collected
through an interview over the telephone with the
interviewer
Questionnaire
 It is the most commonly used method. Questionnaires
are a list of questions for which the respondent give
answers. It can be conducted via telephone, mail, live in
a public area, or in an institute.
 Mailed questionnaire – Data is collected through
questionnaire mailed to the informant.
 Questionnaire filled by enumerators – Data is collected
by trained enumerators who fill questionnaires.
Schedule
 Very similar to Questionnaire method
 main difference is that a schedule is filled by the
enumerator who is specially appointed for the purpose.
 Enumerator goes to the respondents, asks them the
questions from the Questionnaire in the order listed, and
records the responses. Enumerator must be trained in
administering the schedule.
Information through agencies
 The local agents or correspondents will be appointed, they
collect the information and transmit it to the office or person.
 This system is adopted by newspapers, agencies, etc., when
information is needed in different fields.The informants are
generally called correspondents.
Survey
A detailed study of geographical area to gather data attitudes,
impressions, opinions, satisfaction level etc., by polling a
section of the population.
Survey is most commonly used method in social sciences,
management, marketing and psychology to some extent.
Surveys can be conducted in different methods.
TYPES
Census Survey
2.Continuous or Regular Survey
Advantages
Data interpretation is better
Addresses Specific Research Issues
Greater Control
Disadvantages
High Cost
Time Consuming
More number of resources is required
SECONDARY DATA
 Data collected from a source that has already been
published in any form is called as secondary data.
 Secondary data is not collected by the person who is doing
research.
 The review of literature in any research is based on
secondary data mostly from books, journals and
periodicals.
 IMPORTANCE AND SOURCES OF SECONDARY DATA
 Sometimes it is difficult to obtain primary data; in these cases getting
information from secondary sources is easier and possible.
 Sometimes primary data does not exist in such situation one has to
confine the research on secondary data.
 Sometimes primary data is present but the respondents are not willing to
reveal it in such case too secondary data can suffice.
 After the expense of electronic media and internet the availability of
secondary data has become much easier.
SOURCES OF SECONDARY DATA
COLLECTION
Published printed source
 Books
 Journals/periodicals
 Magazines/Newspapers
 Published Electronic Sources
 e-journals
 General websites
 Weblogs
Unpublished Personal Records
 Diaries
 Letters
Government Records
 Census Data/population statistics
 Health records
 Educational institutes records
Public Sector Records
 NGOs's survey data
 Other private companies records
Published Printed Sources
 There are varieties of published printed sources. Their credibility
depends on many factors. For ex:, on the writer, publishing company
and time and date when published.
# Books – Books are secondary source but most authentic one in
secondary sources.
# Journals and periodicals – journals provide up-to-date information
which at times books cannot and It can give infomation on the very
specific topic rather than about more general topics.
# Magazines/Newspapers - Magazines are effective but not very
reliable. Newspaper is more reliable and in some cases the
information can only be obtained from newspapers as in the case of
some political studies.
Published Electronic Sources
# E-journals - e-journals are more commonly available than printed
journals.
# General Websites - informations are not very reliable, content
should be checked for the reliability before quoting from them.
# Weblogs - they are actually diaries written by different people.
These diaries are as reliable to use as personal written diaries.
Unpublished Personal Records
 Some unpublished data may also be useful in some cases.
# Diaries – Diaries are personal records and are rarely available but
they might be very useful for a descriptive research.
# Letters - Letters like diaries are also a rich source but should be
checked for their reliability before using them.
Government Records
# Government records are very important for marketing,
management, humanities and social science research.
Advantages
 Ease of Access
 Low Cost to Acquire
 Clarification of Research Question
Disadvantages
 Quality of Research
 Not Specific to Researcher's Needs
 Not Timely
 CLASSIFICATION OF DATA
There are four types of data classification. They are
 Geographical classification
 Chronological classification
 Qualitative classification
 Quantitative classification
Geographical classification
 When data are classified on the basis of location or areas, it is
called geographical classification
 Example: Classification of production of food grains in different
states in India.
Chronological classification
 Chronological classification means classification on the basis of
time, like months, years etc.
 Example: Profits of a company from 2015 to 2020.
Quantitative classification
 Refers to the classification of data according to some
characteristics, which can be measured such as height, weight,
income, profits etc.
Qualitative classification
 data are classified on the basis of some attributes or quality such
as colour of hair, literacy etc., In this the attribute under study
cannot be measured. It can only be found out whether it is present
or absent.