METHODS OF
DATA COLLECTION
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
DATA COLLECTION
• All researches are supported by relevant data and facts
• These facts are collected in a number of ways
• Some relevant facts are already collected by someone in the
field
• But most often new facts and information are required
METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
• There are two approaches of gathering information
• If the information relevant to the problem are already
available is called second-hand information
• The information and facts a researcher collects him/herself
are called first-hand information or data
• Second-hand information is called secondary data and first-
hand information is called primary data
METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
Primary Secondary
Observation Interview Questionnaire Published Works
PRIMARY DATA
• The data a researcher collects for the first time and never
been used before is called Primary Data
• There are several methods of collecting primary data
• The choice of method depends upon the purpose and nature
of study and information required
• Several factors affect data but a good researcher has the
ability and skill to control these factors
SOURCES OF PRIMARY DATA
• Three major sources are used to collect primary data
• Observation
• Interview
• Questionnaire
• A researcher can use only one method of data collection,
but some researches required two or all the three methods
for a single study
OBSERVATION
• Observation in Research Methodology can be defined as a
systematic and selective way of watching and listening to an
interaction
• Although no method provides 100% correct results but
observation for the most part is liable to produce direct and
real information
TYPES OF OBSERVATION
• There are two types of Observation
• Participant Observation
• When the researcher him/herself participates in the
activity of the group being observed. Here the researcher
becomes Active Observer
• Non-participant Observation
• When the researcher does not involve in the activity but
remains a Passive Observer
INTERVIEW
• Interviewing is a commonly used method of data collecting
from people (Direct, Phone, Internet).
• It is a person-to-person interaction between two or more
individuals for a specific purpose.
• Sometimes it is more flexible when there is a freedom of
formulating questions.
• Other times, it is inflexible and rigid when the researcher
follows strictly decided questions.
TYPES OF INTERVIEW
Types of Interviews
• Interview can be classified into two categories:
Structured Un-Structured
STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
• In Structured Interview, the researcher ask a
predetermined set of questions from respondents
• The written list of questions is called Interview Schedule
• Note that Interview Schedule is a tool or technique but
Interview in itself is a method of data collection
• Structure Interview has the advantage of collecting uniform
information
UN-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
• Un-structured Interview is the one which has no decided
list of questions but researcher can ask any relevant
question from respondents
• Thus it provides a great freedom to the researcher esp. in
terms of contents, structure and questions
• Sometimes, cross-questions emerging from interview has
great potential of extended knowledge
• However, it needs a good skill to control the situation
UN-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
• There are several types of Un-structured Interview
• In-depth: repeated face-to-face encounter b/w researcher and
a group of interviewee
• Focus Group: Same as In-depth but individual instead of
group
• Narrative: The researcher actively hears respondent
• Oral History: Same as narrative both active and passive about
a historical event
QUESTIONNAIRE
• Questionnaire is a written list of questions asked from
respondents who answer these in written form
• It different from Interview Schedule in terms of explaining
questions, questionnaire does not have it.
• Two types of question are asked in questionnaire
• Open-ended where respondent writes answers in his own
word, and close-ended where respondent answers from
selection (e.g. Yes/No)
ALONG WITH QUESTIONNAIRE
• Any Questionnaire should include a covering letter:
• Introduction of Researcher and Concerned Institute
• Purpose and Objectives of Study
• Relevance of the Study
• Assurance of respondent’s anonymity
• Contact number in case of any question
• Address where s/he would return questionnaire
SECONDARY DATA
• Secondary Data is the one that is already publicized in the
form of:
• Government or semi-government documents
• Earlier researches (books, journals etc.)
• Personal Records of one’s own or historical records
• Mass Media (newspaper, magazine etc.)
• Documentaries, Audio/Visual records etc.
ASK OR SHARE
QUESTIONS
ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
ANSWERS
