Data Collection

How Important it is?

Data collection is an extremely
important part of any research
because the conclusions of a
study are based on what the data
reveal.
There are several ways of collecting
data. The choice of procedures
usually depends on the objectives
and design of the study
Main Influencing Factors while

Data Collection Methods

According to source, data may
also be classified as Primary
Source and Secondary Source.
Two important questions to be
considered are:
Who will provide that data?
Where will the data be collected?

Primary Data
These are information collected by
researcher by self for a particular
purpose.
Data is gathered through Questionnaire
Interviews,
Observations etc.

Secondary Data
like recent, data of completed studies.
Data collected, compiled/written by other
researchers for their use. This is easily
available in the form of Books, Journals,
Newspapers, etc
Eg- Censuses, Data collected by world wide
surveys, such as agriculture and industry
surveys, demographic and health surveys
Any reference must be acknowledged

STEPS TO COLLECT DATA

REVIEW
REVIEW&
&COMPILE
COMPILESECONDARY
SECONDARYSOURCE
SOURCEINFORMATION
INFORMATION

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PLAN
PLAN&
&DESIGN
DESIGNDATA
DATACOLLECTION
COLLECTIONINSTRUMENTS
INSTRUMENTS
TO
TOGATHER
GATHERPRIMARY
PRIMARYINFORMATION
INFORMATION

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DATA
DATACOLLECTION
COLLECTION
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

METHODS USED
TO COLLECT
PRIMARY SOURCE DATA

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Interviews
Questionnaires
Survey
Experimentation
Case Study
Observation

However, for a small-scale study, the most commonly used

methods are interviews, survey questionnaires and observations.

Effective way
of gathering
information

Involves verbal
and non-verbal
communications

INTERVIEW

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

Steps To An Effective
Interview
Prepare your interview schedule

Select your subjects/ key informants

Conduct the interview

Analyze and interpret data collected from the interview

The most common

data collection instrument

Useful to collect
quantitative and qualitative
information

Survey
Questionnaire

Should contain 3 elements:

1. Introduction to explain the objectives
2. Instructions must be clear, simple language & short
3. User-friendly avoid difficult or ambiguous questions

2 Basic Types of survey

questions:
1. Open-ended
Questions

Free-response
(Text Open End)
Fill-in relevant
information

2. Close-ended
Questions

Dichotomous

question
Multiple-choice
Rank
Scale
Categorical
e: For specific examples and students activities
on each question style,
please refer to the notes on Data Collection
the e-learning.
in
Numerical

Observe verbal &

non-verbal communication,
surrounding atmosphere,
culture & situation

Need to keep
meticulous records of
the observations

Observations

Can be done through discussions,

observations of habits, rituals,
review of documentation,
experiments

DATA ANALYSIS
Summary sheet
1. To analyse data from interviews and observation, use
Checklist
Manually
2. To analyse data from questionnaires, use
SPSS
3. In a small scale study, the most common forms of statistical
analysis presented are:
Frequency
Mean
Percentage

DATA INTERPRETATION
1.

It involves 2 terms

Results
presentation of data/findings (statistics)

Discussion interpretation of data/findings

2.

Things to consider when interpreting your data:

Interpret findings based on the purpose and

objectives of your study

Relate the findings to real life context

Use persuasive language to convince your readers

to see the research from your point of view.

Order your interpretation to highlight the most important

findings

Include limitations to your research.

Use simple, clear language