Methods Of Data Collection Advantages And

Disadvantages
Data collection method Advantages Disadvantages

Primary Data ➢ Addresses Specific ➢ Cost

Collection Research Issues
➢ Time Consuming
➢ Greater Control
➢ Not Always Feasible
➢ Efficient Spending for
Information

➢ Proprietary Information

1. Questionnaire
➢ Can be used as a ➢ Design problems.
method in its own right or
as a basis for ➢ Questions have to be
interviewing or a relatively simple.
telephone survey.
➢ Historically low response
➢ Can be posted, e-mailed rate (although
or faxed. inducements may help).

➢ Can cover a large ➢ Time delay whilst waiting

number of people or for responses to be
organizations. returned.

➢ Wide geographic ➢ Require a return

coverage. deadline.

➢ Relatively cheap. ➢ Several reminders may

be required.
➢ No prior arrangements
are needed. ➢ Assumes no literacy
problems.
➢ Avoids embarrassment
on the part of the ➢ No control over who
respondent. completes it.

➢ Respondent can ➢ Not possible to give

consider responses. assistance if required.

➢ Possible anonymity of ➢ Problems with

respondent. incomplete
questionnaires.
➢ No interviewer bias.
➢ Replies not spontaneous
and independent of each
other.

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 Methods Of Data Collection Advantages And
Disadvantages
➢ Respondent can read all
questions beforehand
and then decide whether
to complete or not. For
example, perhaps
because it is too long,
too complex,
uninteresting, or too
personal

Data collection method Advantages Disadvantages

2. Interviews
➢ Serious approach by ➢ Need to set up
a) Personal interview respondent resulting in interviews.
accurate information.
➢ Time consuming.
➢ Good response rate.
➢ Geographic limitations.
➢ Completed and
immediate. ➢ Can be expensive.

➢ Possible in-depth ➢ Normally need a set of

questions. questions.

➢ Interviewer in control and ➢ Respondent bias –

can give help if there is a tendency to please or
problem. impress, create false
personal image, or end
➢ Can investigate motives interview quickly.
and feelings.
➢ Embarrassment possible
➢ Can use recording if personal questions.
equipment.
➢ Transcription and
➢ Characteristics of analysis can present
respondent assessed – problems – subjectivity.
tone of voice, facial
expression, hesitation, ➢ If many interviewers,
b) Telephone interview
etc. training required.

➢ Can use props.

➢ If one interviewer used,

uniformity of approach.

➢ Used to pilot other

methods.

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 Methods Of Data Collection Advantages And
Disadvantages
➢ Relatively cheap. ➢ Often connected with
selling.
➢ Quick.
➢ Questionnaire required.
➢ Can cover reasonably
large numbers of people ➢ Not everyone has a
or organizations. telephone.

➢ Wide geographic
coverage.
➢ Repeat calls are
inevitable – average 2.5
calls to get someone.
➢ High response rate –
keep going till the ➢ Time is wasted.
required number.
➢ Straightforward
➢ No waiting. questions are required.

➢ Spontaneous response. ➢ Respondent has little

time to think.
➢ Help can be given to the
respondent. ➢ Cannot use visual aids.

➢ Can tape answers. ➢ Can cause irritation.

➢ Good telephone manner

is required.

Data collection method Advantages Disadvantages

3. Observation
➢ Useful for collecting ➢ Subjects need to be
information from clear about what they are
employees. being asked to do, why
and what you plan to do
➢ Different writers with the data.
compared and
contrasted ➢ Diarists need to be of a
simultaneously. certain educational level.

➢ Allows the researcher ➢ Some structure is

freedom to move from necessary to give the
one organization to diarist .focus, for
another. example, a list of
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 Methods Of Data Collection Advantages And
Disadvantages
➢ Researcher not headings.
personally involved.
➢ Encouragement and
➢ Diaries can be used as a reassurance are needed
preliminary or basis for as completing a diary is
intensive interviewing. time-consuming and can
be irritating after a while.
➢ Used as an alternative to
direct observation or ➢ Progress needs checking
where resources are from time-to-time.
limited.
➢ Confidentiality is required
as content may be
critical.

Analyses problems, so
you need to consider
how responses will be
coded before the
subjects start filling in
diaries
Data collection method Advantages Disadvantages

➢ Unobtrusive ➢ Data availability

Secondary Data
➢ Fast & inexpensive ➢ Level of observation
Collection
➢ Avoid data collection ➢ Quality of documentation
problems ➢ Data quality control
➢ Provide bases for ➢ Outdated data
comparison ➢ Quality of Researcher
➢ Ease of Access ➢ Not Specific to
➢ Low Cost to Acquire Researcher’s Needs
➢ May Help Clarify ➢ Inefficient Spending for
Research Question Information
➢ May Answer Research ➢ Incomplete Information
Question ➢ Not Timely
➢ May Show Difficulties in ➢ Not Proprietary
Conducting Primary Information
Research