Chapter 3

Methods of Data Collection

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 3. Method of Data Collection
What is Data?
•Data is a collection of facts, such as values or
measurements.
• It can be numbers, words, measurements, observations or even
just descriptions of things.
•Data can be qualitative or quantitative.
• Qualitative data is descriptive information (it describes
something)
• Quantitative data, is numerical information (numbers).

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 Cont.

• Data collection is simply how information is gathered

• The task of data collection begins after a research problem has
been defined and research 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,
primary and secondary.
• The primary data are those which are collected afresh and for the
first time, and thus happens to be original in character. The data
which is collected from the field under the control and
supervision of an investigator.
• 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. It involves less cost,
time and effort. For example : data from book

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 Cont.

Advantages of using Primary data

• The investigator collects data specific to the problem under study.
• There is no doubt about the quality of the data collected (for the
investigator).
Disadvantages of using Primary data
1. The investigator has to contend with all the hassles of data
collection
• Deciding why, what, how, and when to collect
• Getting the data collected (personally or through others)
• Getting funding and dealing with funding agencies
• Ethical considerations (consent, permissions, etc.)
2. Ensuring the data collected is of a high standard
3. Cost of obtaining the data is often the major expense in studies

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 Cont.

Advantages of using Secondary data

• The data’s already there- no hassles of data collection
• It is less expensive
• The investigator is not personally responsible for the
quality of data (“I didn’t do it”)
Disadvantages of using Secondary data
• The investigator cannot decide what is collected (for
instance, if specific data about something is required).
• One can only hope that the data is of good quality
• Obtaining additional data (or even clarification) about
something is not possible (most often)

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 3.1 Collection of Primary Data

• There are several methods of collecting primary data:

Important ones are:
(i) Observation method
(ii) Interview method
(iii) Through questionnaires, and
(iv) Other methods which include
(a) Warranty cards
(b) Distributor audits
(c) Consumer panels
(d) Using mechanical devices
(g) Depth interviews, etc.

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 3.1.1 Observation Method

• The observation method is the most commonly used

method specially in studies relating to behavioral
sciences.
• Observation becomes a scientific tool and the method of
data collection for the researcher, when it serves a
formulated research purpose is systematically planned.

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 Cont.…

Observe verbal & Need to keep

non-verbal communication, precise records of
surrounding atmosphere, the observations
culture & situation

Observations

Can be done through

observations of experiments, habits, rituals,
And review of documentation

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 Cont.

Steps To An Effective Observation

Determine what needs to be observed
(Plan, prepare checklist, how to record data)

Select your participants

Random/Selected

Conduct the observation

(venue, duration, recording materials, take photographs )

Compile data collected

Analyze and interpret data collected

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 3.1.2 Interview Method

• The interview method of collecting data involves

presentation of oral-verbal stimuli and reply in terms of
oral-verbal responses.
• This method can be used through personal interviews
and, if possible, through telephone interviews.
(a) Personal interviews: Personal interview method requires
a person known as the interviewer asking questions
generally in a face-to-face contact to the other person.
(b) Telephone interviews: This method of collecting
information consists in contacting respondents on telephone
itself.
It is not a very widely used method, but plays important part
in industrial surveys, particularly in developed regions.
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 Cont.…

Effective way Involves verbal

of gathering and non-verbal
information communications

INTERVIEW

Can be conducted
face to face, by telephone,
online or through mail

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 Cont.…

Steps To An Effective Interview

Prepare your survey questions
(Formulate & choose types of questions, order them, write instructions, make copies)

Select your respondents/sampling

Random/Selected

Conduct the interview

Analyze and interpret data collected from the interview

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 3.1.3 Collection of data through questionnaires

• This method of data collection is quite popular

• In this method, a questionnaire is sent (by post or mail)
to the persons concerned with a request to answer the
questions and return the questionnaire.
Kinds of Questions
You can have open or closed questions.
1. An open question ; gives free rein to the respondent to
say what they want (e.g. 'Tell me what do you think
about impacts of expensive design in mechanical
industries').
2. A closed question has to be answered with one of the
alternatives that the questioner (i.e. you) gives.

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 3.1.3 Collection of data through questionnaires

Closed questions are more common in questionnaires and

there is a range of ways of
providing the 'closeness' of the answer: which are
• Yes/no question :
• Multiple choice question :
• Rank order questions
• Rating scale question

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 3.1.4 Some other Methods of Data Collection

1. Warranty cards: Warranty cards are usually postal sized

cards which are used by dealers of consumer.
2. Store audits or records
3. Consumer panels: is essentially a sample of consumers
who are interviewed regularly at intervals over a period of
time.
4. Use of mechanical devices: used to collect information
by way of indirect means. Eye camera, motion picture
camera and audiometer.

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 3.1.5 Case study

• Case study is a study of one thing in its entirety.

• Case study, the idea is to look at a large number of inter-
relating features of each case.
• Remember that you cannot generalize from a case study,
since it is only one case.

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 3.1.6 Focus Groups

• The focused group or group interviewing is a research

strategy for understanding audience/ consumer attitudes
and behaviors.

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 3.1.7 Gathering Survey Data

For basic types doing this:

– mail survey
– telephone survey
– personal interview and
– Group administration
• It can be ask in questions - in a questionnaire (face to
face, or over the phone or online), or in an interview.
• The information collected, to describe some feature of the
situation in which they exist.

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 3.2 Collection of secondary data

• Secondary data means data that are already available i.e., they
refer to the data which have already been collected and
analyzed by someone else.
• Secondary data may either be published data or unpublished
data. Usually published data are available in:
(a) Various publications of the central, state are local governments;
(b) Various publications of foreign governments or of international
bodies and their subsidiary organizations
(c) Technical and trade journals
(d) Books, magazines and newspapers
(e) Reports prepared by research scholars, universities, economists, etc.
in different fields;
(f) Public records and statistics, historical documents, and other
sources of published information.

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 3.3 Sampling

• Sampling is indispensable technique of the research.

• The research work cannot be undertaken without use of
sampling.
• The study of the total population is not possible and it is also
impracticable.
• The practical limitation: cost, time and other factors which are
usually operative in the situation, stand in the way of studying
the total population.
• The concept of sampling has been introduced with a view to
making the research findings economical and accurate.
Population:
• Population or universe means, the entire mass
of observations, which is the parent group from
which a sample is to be formed.
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 3.3 Sampling

• The term ‘population’ or universe conveys a different

meaning than a traditional one. In census survey, the count
of individuals (men, women and children) is known as
population.
• But in research methodology population means the
characteristics of a specific group

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 Cont.…

• Advantages of Sampling Technique

– It has a greater adaptability.
– It is an economical technique.
– It has a greater precision and accuracy in the
observation.
– It has a greater speed in conducting a research work.
– It has a greater scope in the field of research.
– It reduces the cost of observation or data collection.

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 Cont.…

Types of sampling designs

In general two types of techniques of sampling are
as follows:
1. Probability Sampling: Method of sampling which gives
the probability that our sample is representative of
population.
2. Non-probability Sampling: If there is no such idea of
probability then the method of sampling is known as
non- probability sampling. Non-probability is also
known as non-parametric sampling which are used for
certain purpose.

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 Characteristics of Non-probability Sampling:

. There is no idea of population in nonprobability sampling.

2. There is no probability of selecting any individual.
3. Non-probability sample has free distribution.
4. The observations of non-probability sample are not used
for generalization purpose.
5. There is no risk for drawing conclusions.

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 Quize 7%

1. Define the method of data collection .

2. Explain qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
3. Describe at least five major points Criteria for selecting
a research topic
4. Define Proposal summary/abstract and its contents
5. Discuss the main purpose literature review in research
area
6. Define the term in research reporting which are:
a) Introduction b)Methods:
c)Results d)Discussion

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 Chapter 4
Writing Research Proposal

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 4.1 Identifying a research topic

• Defining the problem is the first step and one of the most
difficult in research undertaking.
• Each topic that is proposed for research has to be judged
according to certain guidelines or criteria.
Criteria for selecting a research topic
• Relevance/Significance
• Avoidance of duplication Urgency of data needed (timeliness)
• Feasibility of study
• Cost-effectiveness
• Applicability of the results
• Interest to the researcher

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 rules for writing up proposal/ research:

If you quote someone else's work you must always

attribute their work - otherwise it is
plagiarism.
– If you use a quotation of 40 words or longer,
indent it, without quotation marks.
– If shorter, keep it in the text and put quotation
marks around it.

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 Cont.

Use 35 mm (1.5 inches) margins on the left,

and 25 mm (1 inch) on the right, top and bottom. Or follow
your own university guidelines.
• Double-space your work, as specified by most
university regulations. Select all (Ctrl A), then
press Ctrl 2.
• Make sure you 'reference' work that you refer to in your
write-up. All university libraries tell you how to use the
Harvard / Vancouver method
for referencing.

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 4.2 Elements of Research proposal and Format

• Title page
• Executive summary / Abstract • 1.4.1 General objective
• Acknowledgements • 1.4.2 Specific objectives
• Table of contents • 1.5 scope of the study
• List of tables • 1.6 limitation of the study
• List of figures
• Acronyms • CHAPTER 2. Literature review
CHAPTER 1. Introduction • CHAPTER 3. Methodology
• 1.1 Background • CHAPTER 4. Work plan
• 1.2 Statement of the problem • CHAPTER 5. Budget
• 1.3 significance of the study • 6. References
• 1.4 Objective of the study

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 Cont..

1st . Title page

• Title page 1: The title of the study, the name of the
researcher with his/her title, name of the department the
proposal is going to be submitted to and date and place of
submission.
• The title page has no page number and it is not counted in
any page numbering.
• Titles should almost never contain abbreviations.
Title page 2: Contents in title page 1 plus name
• of advisors

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 Cont..

2nd Proposal summary/abstract

A summary includes:
• A brief narrative summary of one page that could contain
the following elements:
• One paragraph on the statement of the problem
• General objective
• Summary of methods - study populations, sample sizes
and data collection techniques used
• Total budget (optional)

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 Cont..

• 3rd Acknowledgements- thanking all who enabled to

develop and implement this study.
• 4th Table of contents
• 5th List of tables
• 6th List of figures
• 7th Acronyms
• All the above discussed contents pages can be writing
by roman numbers

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 Cont..

CHAPTER 1. Introduction

The main purpose of the introduction is to provide the necessary

background or context for your research problem.
How to frame the research problem is perhaps the biggest
problem in proposal writing.
The introduction typically begins with a general statement of the
problem area, with a focus on a specific research problem, to be
followed by justification of study.

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 1.4 Objective of the study

• The objectives of a research project summarize what is to be achieved

by the study.
• Should be closely related to the statement of the problem
• General objectives states what is expected to be achieved by the study in
general terms
Specific objectives
• These are a breakdown of the general objectives
• Systematically address the various aspects of the problem
SMART Objectives
– Specific
– Measurable
– Achievable/attainable
– Realistic
– Time bound
1.6 limitation of the study
– All research has limitations and thus certain work that will not be performed.
– The work that will not be undertaken is described as the delimitations of the
research 35
 Chapter 2 Literature review

• What is the state of the science/art on this problem? Are

there gaps in the literature? How will your study fill those
gaps?
• Synthesize recent literature (within the past 5 years)
• Literature review surveys scientific articles, books,
journals, dissertations and other sources relevant to a
particular issue, area of research, or theory, providing a
description, summary, and critical evaluation of each
work.

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 CHAPTER 3. Methodology

Methodology
• Is the specific techniques, tools or procedures applied to
achieve a given objective.
• Detailed enough so that the reviewers could conduct the study.
• The methods section is the heart of the research proposal.
• You must decide exactly how you are going to achieve your
stated objectives.
• It is essential to discuss procedures clearly and completely
with considerable amount of details.
• The statement of methodology can writing by future tense.

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 CHAPTER 4. Work plan

• Important planning tool

• The proposal should include the sequence of tasks to be performed,
the anticipated length of time required for its completion and the
personnel required.
• It can be presented in tabular or graphic form (Gantt chart)
• Flow charts and other diagrams are often useful for highlighting the
sequencing and interrelationship of different activities in the study.
CHAPTER 5. Budget
• The budget translates project activities into monetary terms
• It is a statement of how much money will be required to accomplish
the various tasks
Major items
• Salary for staff
• Travel
• Institutional overheads
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 Cont.…

• A detailed budget will help you to identify which resources are

already locally available and which additional resources may be
required.
• The process of budget design will encourage you to consider aspects
of the work plan you have not thought about before and will serve as
a useful reminder of activities planned, as your research gets
underway.
6. References
• Each reference must include the names of all authors (in the same
sequence in which they appear in the research proposal or thesis),
the article and journal title, book title, volume number, page
numbers, and year of publication.
• The exact format for depicting references within the body of the text
and as well as the end of the research proposal varies from one
discipline to another
• The information you give in the reference list must be enough for
readers to find the books and papers in the library or a database. 39