WELCOME TO CH05

THE SOURCES & COLLECTION OF

DATA
 INTRODUCTION
*The task of data collection begins after a research problem
has been defined and research design/ plan chalked out.
*While deciding about the method of data collection to be
used for the study, the researcher should keep in mind two
types of data viz., primary and secondary data.
 *TYPES OF DATA
*The primary data are those which are collected afresh and for
the first time, and thus happen to be original in character.
*The secondary data, on the other hand, are those which have
already been collected by someone else and which have already
been passed through the statistical process.
*The researcher would have to decide which sort of data he
would be using (thus collecting) for his study and accordingly
he will have to select one or the other method of data
collection.
* METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

The methods of collecting primary and secondary data differ

since primary data are to be originally collected, while in case of
secondary data the nature of data collection work is merely that of
compilation.

 Process of preparing and collecting data Originates

from the research design.
 Data Sources
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources

Methods of Data Collection

Secondary Sources Primary Sources

Documents Observation Interviewing Questionnaire

Govt.
Non-Participant

Semi-Structured

Un-structured
Participant

publications
Structured

Collective
Mailed

Direct
Earlier

or
Researches
Census
Personal Records
 Methods of primary data collection
The following are primary data collection tools or instruments:
 Observation
 Interviews
 Questionnaires

1. Observation
Observation is a purposeful, systematic and selective way of
watching and listening to an interaction or phenomenon as it
takes place.
Observation can take place in a laboratory setting or in a
natural setting.
Types of Observation:
There are two types of observation:
 Participant
 Non-Participant
 Recording of Observation
 Narrative description of the interaction.
 Develop a scale to rate various aspects of the
interaction.
 Recording on mechanical devices - e.g. Video tape,
camera, mobile camera phone
Limitation of Observation
 Hawthorne effect
 Observer bias
 Difference in interpretations
 2. Interviews
Interviews can be undertaken on –
 a one-to-one basis or
 in a group.

Classification of Interviews
Interviews can generally be classified into:
a) Face-to-face (Personal)
b) Electronic (Telephone, Internet )
b) Focus groups
 Interviews Cont…
(a) Face to Face (Personal) Interviews: Face-to-face
interviews can be conducted in the following manner:
i. Structured Personal Interview
ii. Semi-Structured Personal Interview
iii. Unstructured / Informal Personal Interview

(b) Electronic (Telephone, E-mails): Involves contacting

respondents through the telephone. NOT widely used
method but plays an important part in counter- checking
collected data.
(c) Focus groups (Conferencing, Discussions specialized
topics): Discussion of attitudes, opinions, preferences
relating to services provided or policies and topical issues.
 Structured interviews are mostly used to generate quantitative data.
 Principles of Interviews
Steps one should take into account while interviewing:
1. Getting the respondent to cooperate and to provide the desired
information. Three things should be fulfilled:
a) The respondents must feel that their interaction with the interviewer will
be pleasant and satisfying.
b) The respondent needs to see the study as being worthwhile.
c) Barriers to the interview in the respondent's minds needs to be overcome.
2. The interviewers should explain, in briefly, the purpose of the study,
the method of selecting respondents, and the confidential nature of
the interview.
3. All the questions should be asked exactly as worded in the
questionnaire.
4. Questions should be presented in the same order as in the
questionnaire.
5. Misinterpreted or misunderstood questions should be clarified
without rewording the questions.
 Conducting an Interview
Beginning to the end
Personally Arrive on time & Be smart Smile

Introduce yourself, Confirm the

At the Start Purpose & Assure confidentiality

Speak slowly, audible Control, body

The questions
Language & Ask relevant questions

Responses Record & if possible Have

written questions

Ask for more information &

At the end Thank the respondent
 3. Questionnaires
A questionnaire is a list of carefully structured questions chosen
after considerable testing (both pre-tests and pilot studies), with a
view to eliciting reliable and operationally valid responses from a
chosen sample.
In general, questionnaires are an effective mechanism for efficient
collection of certain kinds of information.
They are not, however, a comprehensive means of evaluation and
should be used to support and supplement other procedures.
Designing Questionnaires
Before you start to design a questionnaire, identify the study
objectives. More specifically, identify what kind of information you
want to obtain.
Then brainstorm – write down all possible questions for incorporating
in the questionnaire.
 Constructing Questions
This is the most difficult part of developing a questionnaire. Here
are some useful rules of thumb to follow:
Keep the questions short, simple and to the point; avoid all
unnecessary words.
 Avoid loaded or leading questions that imply a certain answer.
 For example, by mentioning one particular item in the question,
Do you agree that Colgate toothpaste is the best toothpaste?’

Questions should only address a single issue.

 For example, ‘Do you take annual holidays to Spain?
Firstly find out if the respondent takes an annual holiday, and
then secondly find out if they go to Spain.
 Constructing Questions Cont…
Do not ask two questions in one by using ‘and’. (Avoid double
barreled questions)
 For example, ‘Did you watch television last night and read a
newspaper?’

Avoid double negatives.

 For example, ‘Is it not true that you did not read a newspaper yesterday?’

State units required but do not aim for too high a degree of
accuracy. For instance, use an interval rather than an exact
figure:
 For example, ‘How much did you earn last year?’
More than £10,000 [ ] but less than £20,000 [   ]

Avoid emotive or embarrassing words – usually

connected with race, religion, politics, sex, money.
 Questions Formulation
There are two type of questions:
1- Closed Questions
2- Open-ended Questions
1- Closed Questions
Closed questions should be used where alternative replies
are known, limited in number and are clear-cut.
Closed questions are questions in which all possible answers
are identified or provided to the respondent. It is useful in
obtaining factual Information.
 For example, Sex:    Male [   ] Female [   ]

Multiple closed questions

 For example, What was your main way of traveling to the hotel?
Car [   ] Coach [   ] Motor bike [   ] Train [   ] Other means [ ]
 Questions Formulation Cont…
2- Open-ended Questions
Open-ended questions are used where the issue is complex,
where relevant dimensions are not known, and where a
process is being explored (Stacey, 1969).
Open ended questions are questions that allow the
respondents to answer in any way they wish.
 For example, What do you think is the best thing (s) about the course?’

(Note: Mixed use of the two questions is the best approach)

 Methods of secondary data collection
In today's world correct information is the key to success.
Secondary data is collected by others but utilized or used by
the researcher.
Sources of Secondary data:
Internal data source:
• Sales and marketing reports.
• Accounting and financial records.
• Miscellaneous reports.
External data sources:
• Federal / Provincial / State governments
• Statistics agencies and Trade associations
• General business publications, Annual reports, Magazine and newspaper
articles
• Academic publications, Library sources
• Computerized bibliographies and syndicated services.
THE END OF CH05: THE SOURCES & COLLECTION OF DATA