METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION SUBMITED BY C.

SENTHAMARAI DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY SCIENCE MADURAI KAMARAJ UNIVERSITY MADURAI 21

INTRODUCTION KEYWORD DATA MEANING TYPES

Primary data Secondary data

METHODS OF PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION;

Experiment method Survey method

SURVEY METHOD:

I. II. III. IV.

Observation method Interview method Mailed questionnaire method Schedule method a. Personal method b. Telephone method

III. IV.

Mailed questionnaire method Schedule method

CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION

KEYWORD Research, Data, DATA:

Data refer to the facts, figures, of information collected for a specific purpose. It is unprocessed information. There are two types of data 1) Primary data 2) Secondary data

1. Primary data
The primary data which are collected afresh and for the first time of first hand and the happen to be original in character. Advantages of primary data: The following are the merits of using the primary data. I. II. Primary data are first and new information More reliable

Secondary data
It is called second hand information which has been already connected by someone and it is already processed systematically.

Advantage of secondary data:

I. Using secondary data is less expensive as it is already available in a complete format. II. Data collection can be finished quickly.

A. Experiment methods:
Under these methods the researcher examines the truth contained in his hypothesis by conducting an experiment through which the data are collected. B.

Survey method
a. The survey method of collection of data is a field oriented study. The main feature of this survey is the discovery of fact the fact may be related to any field like marketing, unemployment, lab our absenteeism and the like.

1. OBSERVATION METHOD:
This method refers to the collection of information by way of investigators own observation without interviewing the respondents.

MERITS:
I. II. III. Subjective bias is eliminated if observation is accurate. The current or latest information relating to the study area can be obtained. Respondents co-operation is not necessary.

LIMITATIONS:
I. II. III. It is an expensive method Only limited information can be obtained Unforeseen factors may affect the investigators observations

INTERVIEW METHOD:
Interview technique is a direct method of data collection. It is a conversation carried out with the definite purpose of obtaining certain information by means of the spoken words. This technique is suitable for the following areas of research (a) user satisfaction survey, (b) users needs, (c) library staff job satisfaction, (d) employment prospects, status in librarianship, (e) library co-operation,(f) library resource-sharing, (g) Inter-library loans, (h) manpower planning (i) union catalogue, and (j) library administration etc. The interview can be either structured or unstructured. 1. Personal interview:

Under this method, questions are put to the respondents directly. A face to face meeting with the respondents is adopted.

MERITTS:
1. More information can be obtained

2. Personal information of respondents can also be obtained 2.Telephonic interview: When the answers for the question are obtained from the respondents through telephone, it is a telephonic interview method. It is not a very widely used method.

MERITS:
a. Less expensive b. More flexible c. No field staff is required d. Data can be collected quickly

CONCLUSION:
Data collection is more complicated process, because the result of research work depends upon the data collection. The researcher collect the data carefully should given the correct result.

REFERENCE
Eurostat, 2004. Urban Audit. Methodological Handbook. Theme 1. General Statistics.

Luxembourg, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Eurostat 2006a. List of Urban Audit Variables. Version 9.2, 24 August 2006 Eurostat 2006b. Urban Audit Glossary. Version of 27 July 2006 Landsis (LAND Statistical Information Systems), 2005. Project Quality Check of Urban Audit Data. Final Report. Version 1.0 (internal report).