Methods of Data Collection

 

a.      Methods of Primary Data Collection

i.Observation

It is the process of recognizing and noting people, objects and occurrences rather than asking for information. Communication with people is absent in this method. It allows everybody to study people in their natural setting without influencing their behavior. Observational data consists of detailed information about groups or situations.

Methods of Observation:

1.Covert and Overt Observation

Covert Observation: There is not identification of the researcher so that the subjects behavior is not influenced by his or her presence. The researcher observes the situations from a distance.

Overt Observation: There is identification of the researcher and the researcher explains about the purpose of observation. The problem with this method is that the subject teds to modify their behavior when they know they are being watched.

2.Structured and Unstructured Observation

Structured Observation: It is the systematic and highly predetermined method of data collection. The main purpose of this observation is to quantify behavior. It dos not give the complete picture of the situation or behavior under study.

Unstructured Observation: It is the holistic way to observe and record behavior without the use of a pre-determined guide. It attempts to provide as complete and selective description as possible.

Advantages of Observation:

·        It is free from subjective biasness.

·        Data is not affected by past behavior or future intentions.

·        Natural behavior of the group can be observed.

Disadvantages of Observation:

·        It is expensive.

·        Obtained information is limited.

·        Unforeseen events may interfere observational task.

ii.Interview

It is the scientific investigation technique based on the process of verbal communication between two persons in order to collect information. Interview is a method of data collection that involves two groups of people, where the first group is the interviewer (the researcher(s) asking questions and collecting data) and the interviewee (the subject or respondent that is being asked questions). Interviews can be carried out in the following ways:

a. Direct Personal Interview:

Direct Personal Interview requires an interviewer or a group of interviewers to ask questions from the interviewee in a face to face fashion. 

It can be direct or indirect, structured or structure, focused or unfocused, etc. Some of the tools used in carrying out in-person interviews include a notepad or recording device to take note of the conversation—very important due to human forgetful nature. Non-verbal communication likes gestures and facial expressions give meaning to the respondent answer.

b.     Indirect Oral interview

In this method, the information is collected by interviewer from third person who is directly or indirectly concerned with the events known as witness. This method is used when the informants are hesitating to give the information directly. The information obtained from this method cannot be relied due to the absence of direct contact.

c.      Telephone interview

The interviewer contacts respondents by telephones. This method uses a structured interview schedule.

d.     Focus Group Interview

It generally involves 6-10 persons. The involved persons are brough together at one place to discuss the topic of interest. The inner feelings and emotional attitudes of the interviewees with respect to a given problem or situation are studied. The interviewer may does not interfere during the discussion and brings the discussion back to the main issues when it goes outside the theme of the discussion

Advantages of Interview:

·        More information can be obtained.

·        Sample can be controlled.

·        It has greater flexibility.

·        Personal information can also be obtained.

·        Mis-interpretation can be avoided by using unstructured way.

Disadvantages of Interview:

·        It is expensive.

·        There is chances of biasness of interviewer or respondent.

·        It is more time consuming.

·        There is more possibility of imaginary info and less frank responses.

·        It needs high skilled interviewer.

iii. Questionnaire

It is the formal list of the questions designed to gather responses from respondents on a given topic.  It is an efficient data collecting mechanism since the researcher knows exactly what is required and how to measure the variable of interest.  It involves the several steps including writing question items, organizing the question items on a questionnaire, administering the questionnaire and so on.

Characteristics of the Good Questionnaire

-It should be short and simple

-Questions should proceed in a logical sequence

-Technical terms and vague expressions must be avoided.

-Control questions to check the reliability of the respondent must be present.

-Brief directions with regard to filling up of questionnaire must be provided

-The physical appearances – quality of paper, colour etc must be good to attract the attention of the respondent

Types of Questions in Questionnaire:

a.       Open Questions

Open questions allow people to express what they think in their own words. Open-ended questions enable the respondent to answer in as much detail as they like in their own words. For example: “can you tell me how happy you feel right now?” Open questions are often used for complex questions that cannot be answered in a few simple categories but require more detail and discussion. Rich qualitative data is obtained as open questions allow the respondent to elaborate on their answer.

b.      Closed Questions

Closed questions structure the answer by only allowing responses which fit into pre-decided categories. Data that can be placed into a category is called nominal data. The category can be restricted to as few as two options, i.e., dichotomous (e.g., 'yes' or 'no,' 'male' or 'female'), or include quite complex lists of alternatives from which the respondent can choose (e.g., polytomous). Closed questions can also provide ordinal data (which can be ranked). This often involves using a continuous rating scale to measure the strength of attitudes or emotions. For example, strongly agree / agree / neutral / disagree / strongly disagree / unable to answer. It is cheap at cost.

 

Types of Questionnaire:

a.      Self Administered

In this method, the respondents usually complete self-administered questionnaires.

·        Online Questionnaire: It is done by sing the email, internet or the website.

·        Mail Questionnaire: It is done by posting the questionnaires to respondents who return them by post.

·        Delivery and Collection Questionnaire: It is done by hand to hand to each respondent and collecting later.

b.     Interviewer Administered Questionnaire

It is generally administered by the researcher him or her or by any other interviewer.

·        Telephone Questionnaire: The researcher contacts the respondents and administers questionnaires by using the telephone. The accurate information and response are essential conditions for a good telephone questionnaire. The respondents selected for the telephone questionnaire need to be informed before hand by email or telephone or fixing appointment about the study.

·        Interview Schedule: It is administered by the interviewer by physically meeting the respondent and asking the questions face to face. It uses schedule device which is the set of questions. It provides opportunity to the researcher to rapport with the respondents.

Advantages –

⦁ Free from bias of interviewer

⦁ Respondents have adequate time to give

⦁ Respondents have adequate time to give answers

⦁ Respondents are easily and conveniently approachable

⦁ Large samples can be used to be more reliable

Disadvantages–

⦁ Low rate of return of duly filled questionnaire

⦁ Control over questions is lost once it is sent

⦁ It is inflexible once sent

⦁ Possibility of ambiguous or omission of replies

 ⦁ Time taking and slow process

 

b.Methods of Secondary Data Collection

A researcher can obtain secondary data from various sources. Secondary data may either be published data or unpublished data. Published data are available in :

 a. Publications of government

b. technical and trade journals

c. reports of various businesses, banks etc.

 d. public records

e. statistical or historical documents.

Unpublished data may be found in letters, diaries, unpublished biographies or work.

Before using secondary data, it must be checked for the following characteristics:

1. Reliability of data – Who collected the data? From what source? Which methods? Time? Possibility of bias? Accuracy?

2.Suitability of data – The object, scope and nature of the original enquiry must be studies and then carefully scrutinize the data for suitability.

 3.Adequacy – The data is considered inadequate if the level of accuracy achieved in data is found inadequate or if they are related to an area which may be either narrower or wider than the area of the present enquiry

Some parts are adopted from:

a.      https://bbamantra.com/methods-of-data-collection-primary-and-secondary-data/

b.     https://www.formpl.us/blog/primary-data

c.      https://www.simplypsychology.org/questionnaires.html