Collection of Data

Key terms
⚫Variable: The values which change, such as production
of food grains per annum, temperature of a city, etc.
They are represented by the letters X,Y or Z.
⚫Observation: The value of an variable.
⚫Data: Observations corresponding to different variables.
⚫Statistical Investigation: It means search for
information conducted by using statistical methods.
⚫Investigators: The person who conducts statistical
investigation.
⚫Enumerators: A person who helps investigator in the
collection of data.
⚫Respondents: The persons from whom statistical
information is collected.
Key terms
⚫ Statistical Unit: The items on which
measurements are taken. Example; weight in
kgs.
⚫Population or the Universe: it means
totality of the items under study.
⚫Sample: It refers to a group or section of
the population from which information is to
be obtained.
⚫Good sample: It is smaller than the
population and is capable of providing accurate
information about the population at lower cost
and lesser time.
Sources of Data
1.Primary Data: When the enumerator/investigator
collect the data by conducting an enquiry or an
investigation. They are based on first hand
information.
⚫For example, you will have to enquire from a large
number of school students, by asking questions
from them to collect the desired information.
2. Secondary Data: When the data have been
collected and processed by some other agency. It is
based on second hand information.
⚫ For Eg, information obtained from published
sources
⚫ such as government reports, newspaper
Sources of Data
BASIS FOR
COMPARISON
PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA

Primary data refer to the Secondary data means data

Meaning first hand data gathered by collected by someone else
the researcher himself. earlier.

Data Real time data Past data

Process Very involved Quick and easy

Surveys, observations, Government publications,

Source experiments, questionnaire, websites, books, journal
personal interview, etc. articles, internal records etc.

Cost effectiveness Expensive Economical

Collection time Long Short

Always specific to the May or may not be specific

Specific
researcher’s needs. to the researcher’s need.

Accuracy and Reliability More Relatively less

Questionnaire
⚫The most common type of instrument used in
surveys for collecting primary data is questionnaire.
⚫While preparing the same the following points are kept
in mind:
⮚ It should not be too long
⮚ The series of questions should move from general to
specific
⮚ The questions should be precise and clear
⮚ The questions should not be ambiguous
⮚ The question should not use double negatives
⮚ The question should not be a leading question
⮚ The question should not indicate alternatives to the
answer
Types of Questions in
Questionnaire
⚫ Closed ended or structured questions: It could
be a two-way question or a multiple choice
question. When there are only 2 possible
answers it is called a two way question. When
there is a possibility of more than 2 answers it
is called multiple choice question.
⚫ Open ended or unstructured questions: It could
be descriptive types. When a person gets a
chance to talk more about any topic.
Differentiate Close Ended
Versus Open Ended
Closed Ended Question Open Ended Question

Easier to compare responses Detailed and qualifies responses

Quicker and easier answers Unlimited possible answers

Easy to interpret Difficult to interpret

Easy to score Difficult to score

Easy to codify for analysis Difficult to codify for analysis

Example: What is your view

Example: Do you play cricket? about globalization?
Modes of data collection
⚫ The basic ways of collecting primary data :
i. Personal interview OR Direct Personal
Investigation
⮚ Direct personal investigation
⮚ Indirect oral investigation
⮚ Information through correspondents
ii. Information through questionnaires
⮚ Mailed questionnaire
⮚ The questionnaire filled by enumerators
iii. Telephone interviews
Modes of data collection
⚫ Sources of secondary data - Published sources
1. Govt. publication
2. semi-Govt. Publication
3. Reports of committees & commissions
4. Private publications e.g., Journals and News papers
research institute, publication of trade association.
5. International publications
⚫ Sources of secondary data - Published sources
Unpublished Sources
The statistical data needn’t always be published. There are
various sources of unpublished statistical material such as
the records maintained by private firms, business
enterprises, scholars, research workers, etc. They may not
like to release their data to any outside agency.
⚫ Other source : web-site
 Personal Interviews
Personal Interviews: In this method, The investigator
conducts interviews with the respondents and obtains
required information.
⚫ Types of interview are:
• Direct Personal Interview: Investigator conducts
face to face interview with respondent.
• Indirect Personal Interview: Data is collected by
interviewing third person who are directly or indirectly
concerned with the subject matter of enquiry, they are
witness to the situation.
• Information through correspondents- Under this
method, local agents or correspondents are appointed
and trained to collect the information from the
respondents.
 Personal Interviews
Advantages Disadvantages

Highest response rate Most Expensive

Allows use of all type of questions Possibility of influencing

respondents
Better use of open ended questions More time taking

Allows clarification of ambiguous

questions
Information through
questionnaires
Under this method the investigator prepares a
questionnaire keeping in view the objective of
the enquiry.
Mailing Questionnaire :In this method, the
required data are collected by mail. The
questionnaire is sent to each respondent by
Advantages Disadvantages
mail with a request to complete and return it
byLeast expensive
a given date. Cannot be used by
illiterates
Only method to reach Long response time
remote area
No influence on Reaction cannot be
respondents watched
Maintains anonymity of Does not aloow explaination
respondents of ambiguous questions
Best for sensitive questions
Information through
questionnaires
The questionnaire filled by enumerators-
The schedule is another data collection technique
containing statements, questions, and blank
spaces to fill up the answers given by the
respondents to the enumerator or interviewer.
⚫The Schedule method of data collection can be
utilised irrespective of the respondent’s literacy.
⚫Respondents can answer complex and difficult
questions with the help of the enumerators.
⚫It leaves little scope for the questionnaire being
left incomplete.
Telephone Interviews
⚫ In this method, the investigator asks questions over the
telephone.

Advantages Disadvantages
Cheaper and takes shorter time Obstruct visual reactions.
They allow researcher to assist Excludes the population who are
respondents by clarifying not
questions having telephone connection.
Helpful where respondents
are reluctant to answer
questions in personal
interview.
Pilot Survey/ Pre- Testing
⚫It is a trial survey which helps to test the
effectiveness of the questionnaire on a small
group
⚫Importance:
1. It helps in pre-testing of the
questionnaire, so as to know the
shortcomings and drawbacks of the
questions.
2. It also helps in accessing the suitability of
questions, clarity of instructions,
performance of enumerators and cost and
time involved.
Surveys
⚫Survey is a method of gathering
information from individuals. The surveys
are done to describe some characteristics
like price, quality, usefulness and
popularity, etc.
⚫The purpose is to collect data.
⚫On the basis of area covered there are two
methods of survey:
⚫Census Survey
⚫Sample Survey
Census or Complete
Enumeration
⚫ A survey which includes every element of the
population. It covers every individual unit in the
entire population.
⚫ The example includes Census of India, which is
carried out every ten years. This surveys are carried
for demographic data on birth, death, literacy.
⚫ Suitability:
⮚ Small size of population
⮚ Widely diverse items in the population
⮚ Requirement of intensive examination of different
items
⮚ High degree of accuracy and reliability
 Census or Complete
Enumeration

Advantages Disadvantages
Results are absolutely A lot of time, energy and money
correct, accurate and is required to collect data
reliable
Less chances of biasness Suitable for certain specific cases
Data related to each element Large number of enumerators
is collected are required for collecting data
Study of Complex investigation
Sample Survey
⚫In this a sample from the population is surveyed.
The first step is selecting a sample to identify the
population. Then select Representative Sample, as
it is difficult to study entire population.
⚫Example: Population, research, etc.
⚫Suitability:
⮚The size of the population is very large
⮚Very high degree of accuracy is not required
⮚Intensive examination of diverse items is not
required
⮚When different units of the universe are broadly
similar to each other.
Sample Survey

Advantages Disadvantages
Economical as only some units
are studied Partial investigation of the universe
Not easy to select a sample
Not time consuming which represent whole
population
Less efforts are required as It is complicated process
small portion is studied and difficult
Parameters Census Method Sampling Method

(1) Nature of The extensive enquiry is conducted The limited enquiry is conducted as only a
enquiry at each and every unit of the few units of the population are studied.
population.

(2) Economy More Time, Money, and Labour It Less Time, Money, and Labour Relatively
requires a large amount of money, less money, time, and labour are required.
time, and labour.

(3) Suitability It is more suitable if the population is It is more suitable if the population is
heterogeneous in nature. homogeneous in nature.

(4) Reliability The results are quite reliable and The results of the sampling method are less
and Accuracy accurate under the census method. reliable because a high degree of accuracy
is not achieved.

(5) Organisation It is very difficult to organise and The sampling method is comparatively easy
and Supervision supervise the census method. to organise and supervise.

(6) Verification Under this method, the results of the Under this method, the results can be tested
investigation cannot be verified. by taking out another small sample.

(7) Nature of The census method is an old method The sampling method is a new and
method of investigation and not a very practicable method. It is a scientific method.
scientific method.
Methods Of Sampling
1. Random Sampling: Method where samples are selected
at random. In this method, every individual unit has an
equal chance of being selected. It is called as probability
sampling.
Methods under random sampling:
a) Lottery Method: In this method all the items in the
populations are assigned a distinct number and these
are written on identical piece of paper and put in a
bowl. Samples are selected on random.
b) Table of Random Numbers: In this random numbers
are arranged in rows and column which are selected
on population size.
c) Exit Polls: it is used to predict election results. In this
technique a random sample of voters, who exit from
the polling booths are asked who they voted for.
Methods Of Sampling
2. Non-Random Sampling: In this all the units of the
population do not have an equal chance of being
selected. Methods under this are:
a) Judgement/Purposive/Deliberate Sampling:
Here sample units are selected consciously by the
investigator on the basis of his judgement. This
method is subject to personal bias of investigator.
b) Quota Sampling: Here the investigator is allotted
definite quota and he is required to collect the
required data from a specific numbers of unit of
each quota.
c) Convenience Sampling: Here the investigator
collects the
sample units on the basis of his convenience.
Sampling and Non Sampling
Errors
⚫Error in statistics is used to denote the difference between
the true value and the estimated value. Errors can be
classified as:
1. Sampling Errors: the difference between the actual value
of a parameter of the population( which is not known) and
its estimate( known). It is possible to reduce sampling
error by increasing the size of the sample.
2. Non- Sampling Errors: It includes:
• Errors in Data Acquisition: From recording
incorrect response
• Non-Response: It occurs when interviewer is unable
to contact person listed in the sample
• Sampling Bias: It occurs when in a sampling plan some
members of target population could not included
Sampling and Non Sampling
Errors
⚫The Causes of Errors are:
⚫Errors of origin : The error that occurs due
to improper definition of statistical units,
defective questionnaire and wrong method
of enquiry is called the Error of origin.
⚫Error of inadequacy: The error that occurs
due to incomplete data or insufficient data
is called Error of inadequacy.
⚫Error of manipulation : The error that
occurs at the time of analysis (clerical
errors) is called Error of manipulation.
Important Agencies of
Secondary Data
⚫ CENSUS OF INDIA- 1951
⚫ National Sample Survey Organisation(NSSO)
⚫ Central Statistics Office(CSO)
⚫ Registrar General Of India(RGI)
⚫ Directorate General of Commercial Inteliigence and Statistics(DGCIS)
⚫ Labour Bureau

1. CENSUS OF INDIA
The first census was conducted in the year 1881 in India and the first
census after independence was conducted in1951
⚫ It is responsible for the collection of data related to different
demographic characteristics. Data is collected for characteristics such
as birth rate, fertility rate, mortality rate, size and composition of the
population etc.
⚫ The data collected by the Census of India acts as a mirror for assessing
the impact of various programmes and development policies initiated by
the government. It also helps in identifying the improvement areas and
making the future policy.
Important Agencies of
Secondary Data
2.National Sample Survey Organisation: it was
established in 1950 under the Ministry of Finance to conduct
surveys and collect data on estimates of literacy, school
enrolments, maternity, PDS, etc to publish surveys through
reports.
⚫NSSO conducts continuous surveys on various problems in
successive rounds. SARVEKSHANA-journal
⚫ Functions of NSSO
⚫ A major objective of NSS has been to provide data required to
fill up the gaps in information needed for estimation of national
income.
⚫ Collection of data relating to the organised industrial sector of
the country
⚫ Supervision of surveys conducted by states in agricultural
sector through their own agencies and also giving guidance to
them for analysing and coordinating the results of these surveys