INFORMATION GATHERING OR DATA COLLECTION

Data: Any information collected, stored, and processed to support your research study.
A.Types of Data (on the basis of sources)
1.Primary Data
2. Secondary Data.

Pros and Cons for each.

Comparison Chart
BASIS FOR COMPARISON PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA

Meaning Primary data refers to the first hand data Secondary data means data collected by
gathered by the researcher himself. someone else earlier.

Data Real time data Past data

Process Very involved Quick and easy

Source Surveys, observations, experiments, Government publications, websites, books,

questionnaire, personal interview, etc. journal articles, internal records etc.

Cost effectiveness Expensive Economical

Collection time Long Short

Specific Always specific to the researcher's needs. May or may not be specific to the researcher's
need.

Available in Crude form Refined form

Accuracy and Reliability More Relatively less

B.Types of Data (on the basis of Data Collection Techniques)

1. Time Series Data:Time series analysis is a specific way of analyzing a sequence of data points
collected over an interval of time.What sets time series data apart from other data is that the
analysis can show how variables change over time. Additionally, time series data can be used
for forecasting—predicting future data based on historical data.Examples of time series analysis
in action include:
• Weather data
• Rainfall measurements
• Temperature readings
• Heart rate monitoring (EKG)
• Brain monitoring (EEG)
• Quarterly sales
2. Cross sectional Data: It is a type of data collected from multiple subjects (such as individuals,
firms, countries, or regions)at one point in time. For example, if we want to measure current
obesity levels in a population, we could draw a sample of 1,000 people randomly from that

Technical and Business Writing Notes by Ms. Rohmeena

 population (also known as a cross section of that population), measure their weight and height, and
calculate what percentage of that sample is categorized as obese
3.Panel Data: Panel data combines both cross-sectional and time series data ideas and looks at how
the subjects (firms, individuals, etc.) change over a time series. E.g, a study on the value of different
currencies over the past 10 years.

INFORMATION COLLECTION TECHNIQUES

The following methods are used for collecting primary data. Secondary data does not need any
method because it is already available.

A.Observation:The observation method involves human or mechanical observation of phenomena

in their natural setting. It doesn’t require oral or written communication. It is used for research on
children, animals or un accessible respondents.

Techniques of Observation:
1.Personal Observation and Mechanical Observation:
i. Personal Observation: The type of observation in which the researcher himself goes and
observes the situation .
ii. Mechanical Observation: The type of observation in which a mechanical device is used for
observing a situation.
2.Disguised Observation and Undisguised Observation:
i. Disguised Observation: The type of observation in which the respondent doesn’t know that he/
she is being observed.
ii. Undisguised Observation: The type of observation in which the respondent doesn’t know that
he/she is being observed.
3. Structured Observation and Unstructured Observation:
i. Structured Observation: The type of observation in which the researched knows what to be
observed.
ii. Unstructured Observation: The type of observation in which the researched knows what to be
observed.
4.Natural Observation and Contrived Observation:
i.Natural Observation: It is the one where the respondents are observed in their natural
environment.
ii.Contrived Observation: It is the one where the respondents are not observed in their natural
environment, instead a similar artificial environment is created for them.

B. SURVEY METHOD
The type of method in which the researcher approaches the respondent with a medium of
exchange(instrument of data collection) and then through verbal or written communication get data.
1. Personal Survey: An interview is called personal when the researcher asks the questions face-
to-face from the respondent. Personal interviews can take place in the home, at a shopping
mall, on the street, outside a movie theater or polling place, and so on.
Advantages
• The ability to let the Interviewee see, feel and/or taste a product.
• The ability to find the target population. For example, you can find people who have seen a
film much more easily outside a theater in which it is playing than by calling phone numbers
at random.

Technical and Business Writing Notes by Ms. Rohmeena

 •
Longer interviews are sometimes tolerated. Particularly with in-home interviews that have
been arranged in advance. People may be willing to talk longer face-to-face than to someone
on the phone.
Disadvantages
• Personal interviews usually cost more per interview than other methods. This is particularly
true of in-home interviews, where travel time is a major factor.
• Each mall has its own characteristics. It draws its clientele from a specific geographic area
surrounding it, and its shop profile also influences the type of client. These characteristics
may differ from the target population and create a non-representative sample.

2.Telephone Surveys
Surveying by telephone is the most popular interviewing method in the USA. This is made possible
by nearly universal coverage (96% of homes have a telephone).
Advantages
• People can usually be contacted faster over the telephone than with other methods. If the
Interviewers are using CATI (computer-assisted telephone interviewing), the results can be
available minutes after completing the last interview.
• You can dial random telephone numbers when you do not have the actual telephone
numbers of potential respondents.
• Skilled interviewers can often elicit longer or more complete answers than people will give
on their own to mail, email surveys (though some people will give longer answers to Web
page surveys). Interviewers can also ask for clarification of unclear responses.

Disadvantages
• Many telemarketers have given legitimate research a bad name by claiming to be doing
research when they start a sales call. Consequently, many people are reluctant to answer
phone interviews and use their answering machines to screen calls. Since over half of the
homes in the USA have answering machines, this problem is getting worse.
• The growing number of working women often means that no one is home during the day.
This limits calling time to a "window" of about 6-9 p.m. (when you can be sure to interrupt
dinner or a favorite TV program).
• You cannot show or sample products by phone.

3.Print Survey:
It is the type of survey in which data is collected from general public through newspapers,
magazines and journals etc. It is self administered very. Self-administered means that the
respondents fill out the questionnaire themselves therefore called Self-administered questionnaire.
Advantages:
Public can be motivated to fill and send back the questionnaire by giving different gifts.
Disadvantages:
It has a slow response rate because it takes time, energy and resources.

4.Postal Survey:
Postal surveys are self-administered, paper-based, standardised surveys in which the questionnaires
are sent by post. Postal surveys are also known as paper-and-pencil surveys.

Advantages:

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 • Postal surveys have established themselves as a cost-efficient survey type, compared to other
modes of data collection.
• Although web surveys are even more cost-efficient, they have not been able to supplant postal
surveys. This is due to the fact that some target persons do not have Internet access.
Disadvantages:
• Response rates of postal surveys are on average, around 40%, which can be increased with
follow-up reminders.
• You must possess (or purchase) a list of postal addresses.

5.Electronic Survey: An electronic survey deliver and gathers survey data from respondents
electronically through computer, mobile phone or other devices. Electronic survey can take place
through email or online web pages.
i. Email Surveys
Email surveys are both very economical and very fast. More people have email than have full
Internet access. This makes email a better choice than a Web page survey for some populations. On
the other hand, email surveys are limited to simple questionnaires, whereas Web page surveys can
include complex logic.
Advantages
• Speed. An email questionnaire can gather several thousand responses within a day or two.
• There is practically no cost involved once the set up has been completed.
• You can attach pictures and sound files.
• The novelty element of an email survey often stimulates higher response levels than
ordinary “snail” mail surveys.
Disadvantages
• You must possess (or purchase) a list of email addresses.
• Some people will respond several times or pass questionnaires along to friends to answer.
• Many programs have no check to eliminate people responding multiple times to bias the
results.
• Many people dislike unsolicited email even more than unsolicited regular mail. You may
want to send email questionnaires only to people who expect to get email from you.

ii.Online (Web Page) Surveys

Web surveys are rapidly gaining popularity. They have major speed, cost, and flexibility
advantages, but also significant sampling limitations. These limitations make software selection
especially important and restrict the groups you can study using this technique.
Advantages
• Web page surveys are extremely fast. A questionnaire posted on a popular Web site can
gather several thousand responses within a few hours.
• There is practically no cost involved once the set up has been completed.
• You can show pictures. Some Web survey software can also show video and play sound.
• Web page questionnaires can use colors, fonts and other formatting options not possible in
most email surveys.
• A significant number of people will give more honest answers to questions about sensitive
topics, such as drug use or sex, when giving their answers to a computer, instead of to a
person or on paper.

Technical and Business Writing Notes by Ms. Rohmeena

 Disadvantages
• Current use of the Internet is far from universal. Internet surveys do not reflect the
population as a whole. This is true even if a sample of Internet users is selected to match the
general population in terms of age, gender and other demographics.
• People can easily quit in the middle of a questionnaire. They are not as likely to complete a
long questionnaire on the Web as they would be if talking with a good interviewer.
• If your survey pops up on a web page, you often have no control over who replies - anyone
from Antartica to Zanzibar, cruising that web page may answer.
• Depending on your software, there is often no control over people responding multiple times
to bias the results.

C. Focus Group Discussion

A focus group discussion involves gathering people from similar backgrounds or experiences
together to discuss a specific topic of interest. It is a form of qualitative research where questions
are asked about their perceptions attitudes, beliefs, opinion or ideas. In focus group discussion
participants are free to talk with other group members; unlike other research methods it encourages
discussions with other participants. It generally involves group interviewing of usually 8 to 12
people. It is led by a moderator (interviewer) in a loosely structured discussion of various topics of
interest.
Skills Required to Conduct FGDs
• Focus group discussion, like all research/study methods, it requires considerable skills,
competencies and expertise such as:
• The researcher needs to be flexible and free of biasness and prejudices.
• A good understanding of the subject, problem, or topic to be investigated. This includes both
theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
• Proficiency in the language in which discussions will be conducted. Focus group discussion
cannot be conducted through an interpreter or by third person, no matter what types of skills he/
she has.
• The role of the moderator is very significant, as good levels of group leadership and interpersonal
skill are required to moderate a group successfully.
Advantages:
• Free and open discussion among the respondents result in generation of new ideas that can be
very useful for decision-making.
• A focus group is not static. The moderator can bring any changes in order to better facilitate the
discussion during the group discussion. This dynamism allows better results in terms of
information derived by a focus group.
• Expressions other than those in verbal form such as gestures and stimulated activities can
provide researcher with useful insights.
Disadvantages:
• Though moderator can control the discussion, the extent to which he/she can control the
discussion depends on his/her experience. Inexperienced moderator may face problems in
controlling some participants who try to dominate the group.
• Respondents may be reluctant to share some sensitive ideas and concerns publicly.
• Due to small sample size and heterogeneity of individuals, the findings may not be adequate to
make projections or the composite picture of the situation.
• An FGD can be a very artificial set-up that influences the respondents to express and act
unnaturally. The findings may be far from the actual.

Technical and Business Writing Notes by Ms. Rohmeena

Technical and Business Writing Notes by Ms. Rohmeena