Collection of Data - CH-2

Collection of Data
Introduction

• Data is the information which can be expressed in numbers.

• Collection of data is the first important aspect of statistical survey.

• Collection of data shows evidence for reaching a sound and clear solution to
a problem

Sources of Data

I. Primary Source (Primary source of data)

II. Secondary Source(Secondary source of data)

I. Primary Source of Data

• Primary source of data implies collection of data from source of origin.It
offers first-hand quantitative information relating to the statistical study.

II. Secondary Source of Data

• Secondary source of data implies collection of data from some agency or
institution which already happens to have collected data through statical
survey(s).It does not offers first-hand information relating to the statistical
study as it is information which is already existing

Primary and Secondary Data

I. Primary Data
• Data originally collected in the process of investigation are known as primary
data.

• It is collected from source of origin and is original.

• The concerned investigator is the first person who collected the information,
hence it is first-hand information.

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II. Secondary Data

• Secondary data are those which are already in existence, and which have
been collected, for some other purpose than the answering of the question in
hand

• It is the data collected by other persons and hence called second-hand data.

• Available in the form of published or unpublished reports.

Note: Getting data from someone else who has collected but not used in his
own will be claimed as primary data.

Principal Differences between Primary and Secondary Data

Main:

1. Deference in Originality.

2. Difference in Objective

3. Difference in Cost of Collection

All Differences:

Basis Primary Data Secondary Data

Originality Original as collected by the Not original as already existing ,

investigator collected by some other
person for institution

Objective Related to speci c objective of Related to some other purpose and

investigator. needs to be adjusted to suit
objective of study in hand

Cost of Collection / More time, money and labour is Less time, money and labour is
Expenditure required. required.

Precautions and More precautions are required, no Less precautions and more editing
Editing editing is needed is required.

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Methods of Primary Data Collection:

A. Personal Interviews

1. Direct personal Investigation

2. Indirect Oral Investigation

3. Information from local sources or correspondents.

B. Information through Questionnaires and Schedules

1. Mailing(Questionnaire) Surveys

2. Enumerator’s method

C. Telephonic Interviews

A. Personal Interviews:

1. Direct Personal Investigation

• Method by which data are personally collected by the investigator from the
respondents.

• Investigator establishes direct relation with the persons from whom the
information needs to be obtained.

• Requires investigator to be very diligent, effective, impartial and tolerant.

Suitable when:

i. The field of investigation is limited and not very large

ii. A greater degree of originality of the data is required.

iii. Information is to be kept secret.

iv. Accuracy of data is of great significance.

v. When direct contact with the respondents are required.

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Merits

i. Originality

ii. Accuracy

iii. Reliability

iv. Related Information (when in direct contact, investigator may obtain other
related information as well)

v. Uniformity

vi. Elastic(Investigator can make necessary adjustments in his set of

questions.)

Demerits

i. Difficult to cover wide areas

ii. Personal Bias (Bias of the investigator)

iii. Costly(time, money and efforts)

iv. Limited Coverage

2. Indirect Oral Investigation

• Indirect oral investigation is the method by which information is obtained

not from the persons regarding whom the information is needed. It is
collected orally from other persons who are expected to possess the
necessary information. These other people are knows as witnesses.

• Eg: Data on economic conditions of the workers may be collected from

their employers rather than the workers themselves.

• Mostly used by government or non-government committees or

commissions.

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Suitable when:

i. Field of investigation is relatively large.

ii. It is not possible to have direct contact with the concerned respondents.

iii. The concerned respondents are not capable of giving information because
of their ignorance or illiteracy

iv. Investigation is complex in nature such that only experts can give
information.

Merits

i. Wide coverage

ii. Less expensive

iii. Expert opinion

iv. Free from bias

v. Simple

Demerits

i. Less accurate

ii. Biased(personal bias of witnesses)

iii. Doubtful Conclusions(due to carelessness of witnesses)

Difference between Direct Personal Investigation and Indirect

Oral Investigation.
Direct Personal Investigation Indirect Oral Investigation.

Investigator establishes direct contact with the Contacting other than those about whom
respondents information is sought

Possible only when the eld of investigation is Field of investigation is relatively large
small.

Investigator must be well versed in the No such requirement

language and cultural habits of respondent

Relatively costlier. Less costlier

3. Information from local source or correspondents

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• The investigator appoints local correspond at deferent places. They collect

information in their own way and furnish the same to the investigator

Suitable when:

i. Regular and continuous information is needed

ii. Area of investigation is large

iii. The information is to be used by journals, magazines, radio, TV etc.

iv. Very high degree of accuracy of information is not required

Merits:

i. Economical (money, time, efforts involved)

ii. Wide coverage

iii. Continuity(correspondents supply almost regular information)

iv. Suitable for special purpose

Demerits:

i. Loss of originality

ii. Lack of uniformity

iii. Personal Bias

iv. Less accurate

v. Delay in collection

B. Information through Questionnaires and Schedules

• Questionnaires are prepared keeping in mind the objective of the enquiry.

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1. Mailing(Questionnaire) Surveys

• Questionnaires are mailed to the respondents.

• A letter is attached with the questionnaire giving the purpose of enquiry.

• The respondent notes the answers against the questions and returns the
completed questionnaire to the investigator.

Suitable when:

i. Area of study is very wide

ii. Respondent are educated

Merits:

i. Economical (money, time, efforts involved)

ii. Original

iii. Wide Coverage

Demerits:

i. Lack of Interest

ii. Lack of flexibility

iii. Limited use

iv. Biased

v. Less accurate

2. Enumerator’s Method

• Questionnaire is prepared according to the purpose of enquiry

• The enumerator himself approaches the respondent with the questionnaire.

• The questionnaires which are filled by the enumerators themselves by

putting questions are called schedules.

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Suitable when:

i. Field of investigation is large

ii. Investigation needs specialized and skilled investigators

iii. Investigators are well versed in the local language and cultural norms of
the respondents

Merits:

i. Wide Coverage

ii. Accuracy

iii. Personal Contact

iv. Impartiality

v. Completeness

Demerits:

i. Expensive

ii. Availability of Enumerators

iii. Time consuming

iv. Not suitable for Private investigation

v. Partial(bias of enumerator)

C. Telephonic interviews
• Investigator seeks the desired information from the respondents over the
telephone.

Merits(Almost same as personal interviews):

i. Originality

ii. Accuracy

iii. Reliability

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iv. Economical (money, time, efforts involved)

v. No personal embarrassment which may occur in personal interviews.

Demerits:

i. Personal Bias

ii. Limited Access

Qualities of a Good Questionnaire

I. Limited Number of Questions

II. Simplicity

III. Proper Order of the Questions

IV. No Undesirable questions

V. Non - Controversial

VI. Avoid calculations(Questions involving calculations must be avoided,

investigator should do the calculations)

VII. Pre-Testing Pilot Survey(read below)

VIII. Instructions

IX.Cross Verification

X. Request for return

Types of Questions and Examples

I. Simple Alternative Questions. Eg: Do you have a car?

II. MCQs Eg: Mode of convention : A.Car B.Bike C.Public Transport

III.Specific Information Questions: How much pocket allowance do you get?

IV. Open Question: Eg: How can prices in India be controlled?

Pilot Survey
• It refers to a try-out survey covering a very small sample of the study

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• It is a sort of a pre-testing of the questionnaire

• Advantages:

• Helps in assessing the quality and suitability of the questions

• Helps in assessing performance of the enumerators

• Helps in designing a set of instructions for the enumerators

• Helps in assessing the cost and time involved in the final survey.

Methods of Secondary Data Collection:

Sources of Secondary Data are:

1. Published Sources

2. Unpublished sources

1. Published Sources
i. Government Publications

ii. Semi-government publications

iii. Reports of Committees and Commissions

iv. Publications of Trade Associations

v. Publications of Research Institutions

vi. Journals and Papers

vii.Publications of Research Scholars

viii.International Publications

2. Unpublished Sources

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• These data are collected by the government organizations and others,

generally for their self use or office record.

• These unpublished numerical information may, however, be used as

secondary data.

Precautions in Use of Secondary Data

i. Ability of the collection organisation:(Data should be used only if collected
by experienced and impartial investigators)

ii. Objective and scope(Whether it matches with the present objective and
scope of the study.)

iii. Method of collection

iv. Time and conditions of collection

v. Definition of the Unit

vi. Accuracy

Two Important Sources of Secondary Data

1) Census of India

• The Census of India produces the most comprehensive and continuous

demographic record of the population.

• Parameters:

i. Size, growth rate and distribution of population in India

ii. Population projections

iii. Sex composition of population

iv. State of literacy

2) Report and publication of national sample survey office (NSSO)

• The NSSO was established by the Government of India to conduct

nationwide surveys on socio-economic issues.

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• NSSO gives periodic measures of education, school enrollment, utilisation

of educational aids, employment, unemployment, manufacturing, and
service sector enterprises, morbidity, maternity, child care, utilisation of the
public distribution system, etc.

Census and Sample Method

• Census method: Method in which data are collected covering every item of
the universe or population relating to the problem under investigation.

• Sample:

• Sample method: method in which data is collected about the sample on a

group of items taken from the population for examination and conclusion
are drawn on their bases

• Random sampling: Method of sampling in which each and every item of the
universe has equal chance of being a selected the sample. There is an
equal probability for every item of this universe being selected in the
sample. Ways: (i)Lottery method (ii) Tables of random numbers

• Non Random sampling: Method of sampling in which each and every item
of the universe does not have equal chance of being a selected the sample.

Haphazard sampling
Random Sampling Haphazard Sampling

It is in accordance with the rules of sampling It is not in accordance with the rules of sampling

Allows every item an equal chance/portability of Does not allow every item an equal chance/
being selected in sample probability of being selected in the sample.

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Sampling and Non Sampling Errors

Sampling Errors
• These are related to the size or nature of the sample selected for the study.

• Due to a very small size of the sample selected for study or due to non-
representative nature of the sample, the estimated value may differ from the
actual value of a parameter.

• For example: if the estimated value of a parameter is found to be 10 while

the actual/true value is 20 then, the sampling error is 10-20= -10.

Non Sampling Errors

• Errors that accurate the stage of collecting data.

• Types of non-sampling errors:

• a] Errors of measurement due to incorrect response.

• b] Errors of non-response of some units of the sample selected.

• c] Sampling bias occurs when sample does not include some members of
the target

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