Week 4

• Data Collection


  Gathering and measuring information on variables of interest in an established systematic fashion
• People collect, interpret, and use information in numerical or statistical forms in day-to-day life
• People receive large quantities of information everyday through various sources like conversations, televisions, computers, radios, newspapers, posters, notices, and instructions
• Craig Mundie: 'Data are becoming the new raw material of business'
• Data Collection


  The process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest in an established systematic fashion that enables answering research questions, testing hypotheses, and evaluating outcomes
• Steps in Data Gathering

  Set the objectives for collecting data 2. Determine the data needed based on the set objectives 3. Determine the method to be used in data gathering and define the comprehensive data collection points 4. Design data gathering forms to be used 5. Collect data
• Proper planning for data collection is essential to avoid problems like inconsistent data collection practices leading to data sets that do not serve the intended purpose
• Consequences of improper data collection

  • Inability to answer research questions accurately
  • Inability to repeat and validate the study
  • Distorted findings resulting in wasted resources
  • Misleading other researchers to pursue fruitless avenues of investigation
  • Compromising decisions for public policy
  • Causing harm to human participants and animal subjects
• Primary Sources of Data

  Provide a first-hand account of an event or time period and are considered authoritative. They represent original thinking, reports on discoveries or events, or they can share new information
• Primary Sources

  • More reliable and accurate information obtained by the investigator
  • High response rates obtained since answers are obtained on the spot
  • Permits explanation of questions concerning difficult subject matter
• Methods to obtain Primary Sources of Data

  Direct personal interviews
• Might be obtained since the answers to various questions are obtained on the spot
• Permits explanation of questions concerning difficult subject matter
• Primary Sources of Data

  • Direct personal interviews
  • Indirect/Questionnaire Method
  • Focus Group
  • Experiment
  • Observation
• Direct personal interviews


  The researcher has direct contact with the interviewee. The researcher gathers information by asking questions to the interviewee
• Indirect/Questionnaire Method


  This method of data collection involves sourcing and accessing existing data that were originally collected for the purpose of the study
• Focus Group


  Group interview of approximately six to twelve people who share similar characteristics or common interests. A facilitator guides the group based on a predetermined set of topics
• Experiment


  Method of collecting data where there is direct human intervention on the conditions that may affect the values of the variable of interest
• Observation


  Technique that involves systematically selecting, watching, and recording behaviors of people or other phenomena and aspects of the setting in which they occur, for the purpose of gaining specified information
• Things to consider when designing a good questionnaire

  • Keep the questionnaire as short as possible
  • Decide on the type of questionnaire (Open Ended or Closed Ended)
  • Write the questions properly
  • Order the questions appropriately
  • Avoid questions that prompt or motivate the respondent to say what you would like to hear
  • Write an introductory letter or an introduction
  • Write special instructions for interviewers or respondents
  • Translate the questions if necessary
  • Always test your questions before taking the survey (Pre-test)
• Secondary Sources offer an analysis, interpretation, or a restatement of primary sources and are considered to be persuasive. They often involve generalisation, synthesis, interpretation, commentary, or evaluation in an attempt to convince the reader of the creator's argument. They often attempt to describe or explain primary sources
• Secondary data are less expensive to collect both in money and time. These data can also be better utilized and sometimes the quality of such data may be better because these might have been collected by persons who were specially trained for that purpose
• Such data must be used with great care, because such data may also be full of errors due to the fact that the purpose of the collection of the data by the primary agency may have been different from the purpose of the user of these secondary data. Secondly, there may have been bias introduced, the size of the sample may have been inadequate, or there may have been arithmetic or definition errors, hence, it is necessary to critically investigate the validity of the secondary data
• Methods to obtain Secondary Sources of Data

  • Published report on newspaper and periodicals
  • Financial Data reported in annual reports
  • Records maintained by the institution
  • Internal reports of the government departments
  • Information from official publications