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Chapter Five
Sources and Methods of Data Collection

By Ayitenew Temesgen
2 Types and Sources of Data
 Primary vs Secondary Data
 Primary sources of information: are source of data that provide firsthand
information for the use of immediate purpose.
 Primary Data: are collected from primary sources.
 Gathered by researcher himself and are gathered for the first time, thus,
happening to be original.
 They are gathered by the researcher himself from the field of research direct
and for first time.

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 Advantages of primary data:

 The primary data are original and relevant to the topic of the research study so the
degree of accuracy is very high.
 primary data is current and it can better give a realistic view to the researcher about the
topic under consideration.
 Reliability of primary data is very high because these are collected by the concerned
and reliable party.

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 Disadvantages of primary data:
 A lot of time and efforts are required for data collection, analysis and report. So the
purpose of the research may be defeated.
 The cost of the data collection goes high. The importance of the research may go down.
 It has design problems like how to design the surveys. The questions must be simple to
understand and respond.
 The respondents may give untimely, fake, socially acceptable and sweet answers and try
to cover up the realities.
 Incomplete questionnaire always give a negative impact on research.
 Trained persons are required for data collection. In experienced person in data collection
may give inadequate data of the research.

By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 Secondary sources of Information and Secondary data

 Secondary sources exist as storage of previously collected information.
 are not originated by the investigator himself but which he gets from some
one’s records.
 gathered them from published and unpublished materials
 are collected by the individuals and/or institution for their own use.
 Collection of primary data is not only very costly but also difficult.
 The secondary data may be used in case the researcher finds them reliable,
adequate and appropriate for his research.

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 Advantages of Secondary Data:

 The primary advantage of secondary data is that it is cheaper and faster to
access.
 Thus, it saves time, efforts and money and add to the value of the research
study.
 it provides a way to access the work of the best scholars all over the world.
 gives a frame of mind to the researcher that in which direction he/she should
go for the specific research.

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 Disadvantages of Secondary data:

 The data collected by the third party may not be a reliable party so the
reliability and accuracy of data go down.
 Data collected in one location may not be suitable for the other one
due variable environmental factor.
 With the passage of time the data becomes obsolete and very old
 Secondary data collected can distort the results of the research. Thus,
special care is required to amend or modify for use.
 Secondary data can also raise issues of authenticity and copyright.

By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 Qualitative versus quantitative Data

 Qualitative data is data in the form of descriptive accounts of
observations or data, which is classified by type
 cannot be, or is difficult to quantify
 Quantitative data is data, which can be expressed numerically or
classified by some numerical value.
 It is more objective and scientific
 It can often be analysed using standard statistical techniques
 applicable to phenomena that can be quantified and measured

By Ayitenew Temesgen
9 Cross sectional data vs. time series data

 Cross sectional data is a data collected from a sample at a given

point in time.
 it is a set of data values observed at a fixed point in time.
 Time series data a set of ordered data values observed at
successive points in time.
 Used to examine a given issue over time.

By Ayitenew Temesgen
10 Methods of primary Data collection
 Primary data are obtained either through observation or through direct
communication with respondents in one form or another.
 There are several methods of collecting primary data:
 Observation method
 Interview method
 Questionnaire Method
 Content analysis
 Focus group discussion
 Nominal group technique
 Delphi method
By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 1. Observation
 involves systematically selecting, watching and recording behavior and
non-behavior characteristics.
 participant or nonparticipant
 In participant observation, the researcher actually participates in the
event or phenomenon being observed.
 He experiences what the member of the group experience.
 In nonparticipant observation the observer is outside the social setting of
the observed.
 his presence may be unknown to the people he is observing

By Ayitenew Temesgen
12 Observation Cont.…
 Advantages of observation
 Information obtained under this method relates to what is currently happening. It is not
complicated by either the past behavior or future intention or attitude.
 It is independent of respondents and is not demanding the active cooperation of the
respondents.
 Limitation of observation
 It is an expensive method
 The information provided by this method is very limited.
 Sometimes unforeseen factors may interfere with the observation task
 Some people or phenomena are rarely accessible to direct observation
 Subjective Interpretation

By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 Advantages of Participant Observation

 The researcher is enabling to record the natural behavior of the group
 The researcher can even gather information, which could not be easily being
obtained if he observes in a disinterested fashion.
 The research can verify the truth of the statement made by informant in the
context of the study.
 Limitation of Participant Observation
 The observe may also loss the objectivity to she/he extent participates emotionally
 The problem of observation control is not solved
 It may narrow down the researcher’s range of experience

By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 Advantage of Non-Participant Observation

 Check and control is possible
 Since the observer is not a part of a group, he is less subjective
 Wider range of experience can be obtained
 Limitation of Non-Participant Observation
 Internal information cannot be obtained
 By chance, If the presence of the observer is known, it is very hard to observe
the natural behavior of the observed object.

By Ayitenew Temesgen
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2. Interview
 Involves oral questioning of respondents, either individually or as a group.
 Interviews can be either unstructured or structured.
 Structured interviews
 Involve the use of
 a set of predetermined questions and
 highly standardized techniques of recording,
 Follow procedures lay down and ask the question in the order prescribed.
 The interviewer in a structured interview follows a rigid procedure laid down,
asking questions in a form and order prescribed.

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 Unstructured interviews
 Are characterized by a flexibility.
 Do not follow a system of pre-determined questions and standardized techniques of recording
information.
 The interviewer is allowed much greater freedom to ask, in case of need, supplementary questions
or at times he may omit or may change the sequence certain questions.
 It is time consuming than that of structured interviews.
 It also demands deep knowledge and greater skill on the part of the interviewer.
 Unstructured interview is very important to study sensitive issues.
 Particularly useful in exploratory researches whereas structured interview is good for
descriptive and explanatory researches.

By Ayitenew Temesgen
 Cont’d
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3. Content Analysis
 It systematically describes and analyzes the form or content of written such as
books, magazines, newspapers and/or verbal material which can be either spoken or
printed. .
 It is tedious process due to analyzed on number of pre-determined dimensions.
 E.g. the analysis of the contents of articles or various letters that have been published.
4. Questionnaire
 is a data collection tool in which written questions are presented and given to
respondents
 It has different ways.
 Mail questionnaires (self-administrated questionnaires)
 Interview questionnaires (schedules)
 Questionnaires through internet (through electronic media)
By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 Mail questionnaires (self-administrated questionnaires)

 The questionnaires are sent by post to the person concerned with a request to answer
the question and return them back.
 Questionnaires are mailed to respondents who are expected to read and understand the
question and write down the answer.
 Advantage (strength) of this method
 Low cost even for larger sample size and widely spread geographically.
 It is free from basis of the interviewer. Answer are in respondent’s world
 Respondents have adequate time to give through answers
 Respondents, who are not approachable, can be reached conveniently (especially, in mail
and e- mail)

By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 Limitations of this method

 Low rate of return
 It can be only for literature respondent
 The control over the questionnaire may be lost once it is sent
 There is inbuilt inflexibility
 The slowest methods of all

By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 Interview questionnaires (schedules)

 Schedules are being filled in by enumerators (interviewers) who are specially
appointed for the response.
 Advantages of this method
 Interview survey attain higher response rate than mail survey.
 The presence of interviewer generally decreases the number of “don’t knows” an “no
answers”
 Interviewer can also provide a guard against confusing questionnaires item.
(Clarification must be strictly controlled).
 The interviewer can observe as well as ask question.

By Ayitenew Temesgen
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 Questionnaires through internet (through electronic media)

 Is collecting data using questionnaire via internet.
 The questionnaire is uploaded into internet and the respondent will register
on that web address.
 Based on his account the respondent will login and electronically fill the
questionnaire.

By Ayitenew Temesgen
22 Cont’d
5. Key informants
 Key informants could be knowledgeable community leaders or
administrative staff at various levels and one or two informative members
of the target group of your research
 Is good when the types of data you need are relatively objective.
 important gain access to potentially available information

By Ayitenew Temesgen
23 Cont’d
6. Focus group discussions (FGD)
 a special type of group in terms of purpose, size, composition, and procedures.
 It hold seven to twelve participants who are unfamiliar with each other but who share similar
characteristics or common interests, and conducted by a trained interviewer.
 In FGD the facilitator sets the agenda and lets the participants brainstorm on the agenda thereby
specifying the points of discussion.
 The group discussion is conducted several times with similar types of participants to identify trends and
patterns.
 In a group situation, members tend to be more open and the dynamics within
the group and interaction can enrich the quality and quantity of information needed.
 Note ticker is required.
 Focus groups are a qualitative data collection method, meaning that the data is descriptive and cannot be
measured numerically.
 It helps to gain information about their views and experience of the topic.
By Ayitenew Temesgen
24 Cont’d
7. Nominal group technique (NGT)
 It identify issues of concern to special interest groups or the public at large
 Used o gain insight into group issues, behaviors and future research needs.
 In NGT discussants are given the chance to list down and prioritize their own idea
about the topic in question
 Then each NGT member presents the prioritized points and accordingly group discussion
starts
 Encourages all group members to participate, and results in a set of prioritized solutions or
recommendations that represent the group’s preferences.

By Ayitenew Temesgen
25 Cont’d
8. Delphi method
 Is a method for the systematic solicitation and collection of expert opinions
 Eliminates committee activity of traditional approach toward achieving a
consensus through open discussion.
 Used to structure discussions and summarizes options to collect
information/expertise from individuals spread out over a large geographic area, and
save time through the elimination of direct contact.
 The technique requires a series of questionnaires and feedback reports.
 Each series is analyzed and the instrument/statements are revised to reflect the
responses of the group.
 A new questionnaire is prepared that includes the new material, and the
process is repeated until a consensus is reached data is valuable but very time
consuming
By Ayitenew Temesgen
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TOOLS FOR SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION

1. Data collection from available database

2. Data collection from documents
 It can be used to validate your research
3. Data collection using Meta-Analysis
 Meta-analysis combines the results of studies being reviewed

By Ayitenew Temesgen
27 Cont’d

The end

By Ayitenew Temesgen