Data & Data collection methods

Dr. Santu Ghosh

Assistant Professor
Department of Biostatistics
St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore 560034
What is data

The quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations

are performed, which may be stored and transmitted in the
form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical,
or mechanical recording media.
The raw material of Statistics.
Information about certain characteristics of interest of a
phenomena or a fact.
Information could be qualitative or quantitative.
 Type of data

Data

Primary Data Secondary Data

Primary data are those Secondary data are those

collected a fresh and for the collected by someone else
first time and happen to be which has already passed
original in Character through statistical process.
Collection of primary data

 There are several methods of collecting primary data, particularly in

survey as well as descriptive research.
 In descriptive research, we obtain primary data either through
observation or through direct communication with respondents in
one form or another or through personal interview.
Collection of secondary data

 These are already available i.e. they refer to the data which has
already been collected and analyzed by someone else.
 Secondary data either may be published or unpublished data.
 Researcher must be very careful in using secondary data, because
the data available may be sometimes unsuitable
 Primary data collection methods

1. Observation Method

2. Interview Method

3. Questionnaire Method

4. Case study method

5. Survey Method

6. Panel Method
Observation Method

 Observation method is method under which data from the field is collected with
the help of observation by the observer or by personally going to the field.
 Observation may be defined as systematic viewing , coupled with consideration
of seen phenomenon.
 Advantages
 Free from subjective bias
 Researcher gets current information

 Disadvantages
 It is expensive and provide limited information
 Unknown factors may interfere with observational task
 Respondents opinion can be obtained
Interview Method

 This method of collecting data involves presentation or oral-verbal stimuli and reply in terms of
oral-verbal response.
 Type of interview methods are
a) Personal Interview
b) Telephonic interview
c) Interview through online chat or text sms.
 Advantages of the interview method
i. Very good technique for getting the information about the complex, emotionally laden subjects.
ii. Yields a good percentage of returns & perfect sample of the general population.
iii. Data collected by this method is likely to be more correct compared to the other methods that are used for
the data collection.
 Disadvantages of the interview method
i. Time consuming process.
ii. Involves high cost.
iii. Requires highly skilled interviewer.
Questionnaire Method

 This method of data collection is quite popular, particularly, in case

of big enquiries.
 The questionnaire can be mailed or distributed to respondents who
are expected to read and understand the questions and write
down the reply in the space meant for the purpose in the
questionnaire itself.
 The respondents have to answer the questions on their own.
Questionnaire development

1. What information is needed?

2. How will the questionnaire be used?
3. Content of questions
4. How will people respond to questions?
5. How will each question be worded?
6. Where will questions be positioned?
7. Format of questionnaire
8. Review
9. Pre-test
 Questionnaire development
How will people respond to questions?

 Multiple-choice questions:
 Which decision rule is a "bottom-up" approach?
a) rational appeals b) lexicographic c) conjunctive d) compensatory rules
 Opened-ended questions:
 The ________________ decision rule is a "bottom-up" approach to decision making
 Essay questions:
 What is the difference between a lexicographic rule and a conjunctive rule in
customer decision making?
 Close ended question: Closed-ended questions are those which can be
answered by a simple "yes" or "no,"
 Would you like to come again to St Johns for treatment?
(a)Yes (b) No
 Merits and demerits of close ended question

 Merits
 it is easier and quicker for respondents to answer
 the answers of different respondents are easier to compare
 answers are easier to code and statistically analyse
 the response choices can clarify question meaning for respondents
 respondents are more likely to answer about sensitive topics
 there are fewer irrelevant or confused answers to questions
 less articulate or less literate respondents are not at a disadvantage
 replication is easier
 Merits and demerits of close ended question

 Demerits
 they can suggest ideas that the respondent would not otherwise have
 respondents with no opinion or no knowledge can answer anyway
 respondents can be frustrated because their desired answer is not a choice
 it is confusing if many response choices are offered
 misinterpretation of a question can go unnoticed
 distinctions between respondent answers may be blurred
 clerical mistakes or marking the wrong response is possible
 they force respondents to give simplistic responses to complex issues
 they force people to make choices they would not make in the real world
 Merits and demerits of Open ended question

 Merits
 they permit an unlimited number of possible answers.
 respondents can answer in detail and can qualify and clarify responses
 unanticipated findings can be discovered
 they permit adequate answers to complex issues
 they permit creativity, self-expression, and richness of detail
 they reveal a respondents logic, thinking process, and frame of reference
 Merits and demerits of Open ended question

 Demerits
 they permit an unlimited number of possible answers.
 respondents can answer in detail and can qualify and clarify responses
 unanticipated findings can be discovered
 they permit adequate answers to complex issues
 they permit creativity, self-expression, and richness of detail
 they reveal a respondents logic, thinking process, and frame of reference
Positioning of questions
Case Study Method

It is essentially an intensive investigation of the particular

unit under consideration .
It is important characteristics are as follows
The researcher can take one single social unit or more of such
units for his study purpose.
The selected unit is studied intensively i.e.,it is studied in minute
details.
Survey Method

 With the application of probability sampling in the 1930s, surveys became a standard tool
for empirical research in social sciences, marketing, and official statistics.
 The methods involved in survey data collection are any of a number of ways in which
data can be collected for a statistical survey.
 These are methods that are used to collect information from a sample of individuals in a
systematic way.
 First there was the change from traditional paper-and-pencil interviewing (PAPI) to
computer-assisted interviewing (CAI).
 Now, face-to-face surveys (CAPI), telephone surveys (CATI), and mail surveys (CASI,
CSAQ) are increasingly replaced by web surveys.
Panel Method

 In this method, data is collected from the same sample

respondents at some interval either by mail or by personal interview.
This is used for studies on
 Expenditure Pattern
 Consumer Behaviour
 Effectiveness of Advertising
 Voting Behaviour and so on
Thank You