Chapter 2.

METHODS OF DATA
COLLECTION AND
PRESENTATION

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What is Data?
Data refers to facts or figures from which conclusion
can be drawn. It is information collected, organized,
analyzed, and interpret by statisticians. It is needed
whenever we undertake studies or researches which
are designed to answer particular problems, or to
provide a base with which certain decisions may be
formulated.

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Kinds of Statistical Data
either counts or measures; e.g., no. of
Quantitative Data students taking BA Econ in the first
semester of SY 2020-2021 at BiPSU.

classificatory data; e.g., yes or no

Qualitative Data responses, sex, civil status, ratings such as
good, satisfactory, poor.

Note: Qualitative data can be transformed into quantitative data by coding; e.g.,
let yes = 1 and no = 0, let excellent = 5, very good = 4, good = 3, satisfactory = 2,
fair = 1.

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Kinds of Statistical Data
refer to information gathered directly from an
original source, or which are based on direct or
Primary Data first-hand experience; e.g., first-person
accounts, diaries, data generated by a
researcher from doing a particular experiment.

refer to information taken from published or

unpublished data which were previously
Secondary Data gathered by other individuals or agencies; e.g.,
information from books, newspapers,
magazines, reports, and the like.

Note: Once primary data has been collected, processed, and published, it becomes
secondary data.

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Advantages of Primary
Data over Secondary Data
1. Primary data frequently give detailed definitions of terms and
accurate statistical units used in the experiment or in the survey.

2. Primary data lend more relevance to the researcher's study

because of his direct participation in the project.

3. Primary data are more reliable because of their first hand nature.

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Method of Data Collection
Survey Method the desired information is obtained either through
personal interview of or by distributing questionnaires to
respondents.

Observations Method the desired information is obtained either through

personal interview of or by distributing
questionnaires to respondents.
Direct observation can be used to discover a variety of types of information including
aspects of social and economic behavior. It is used in investigations of consumer
behavior, working methods and conditions, and or range of social activities.

Experimental Method used when the objective is to determine the cause

and effect

Experimental data are used to test hypotheses on significance of effects of one

or more controlled variables on certain characteristics of the unit of analysis.

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Method of Data Collection
Textual Presentation the desired information is obtained either through
personal interview of or by distributing questionnaires to
respondents.

Observations Method the desired information is obtained either through

personal interview of or by distributing
questionnaires to respondents.
Direct observation can be used to discover a variety of types of information including
aspects of social and economic behavior. It is used in investigations of consumer
behavior, working methods and conditions, and or range of social activities.

Experimental Method used when the objective is to determine the cause

and effect

Experimental data are used to test hypotheses on significance of effects of one

or more controlled variables on certain characteristics of the unit of analysis.

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Two Main Branches of Statistics
Descriptive Statistics
- is used to say something about a set of information that has
been collected only.
- is concerned with describing and summarizing sets of
numerical data;
- includes the construction of tables and graphs and the
calculation of descriptive measures such as averages.

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Two Main Branches of Statistics
Inferential Statistics
- is used to make predictions or comparisons about a larger group
(a population) using information gathered about a small part of
that population

Example:
A sample of meat stalls is selected from the markets in a
municipality in order to estimate the average meat price in the
municipality.
A sample of fishpond operators in a province is taken to
estimate total fishpond production in that province.

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Forms of Data Presentation
 Textual Presentation
 Tabular Presentation
 Graphical Presentation

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Forms of Data Presentation
Textual Presentation
A textual presentation of data is an expository form describing a set
of information. This is a useful manner of presenting limited amounts of
information. When one is faced with the task of describing several facts, this
method of presentation should go hand in hand with tables and/or graphs to
make reading and understanding of the figures being presented easier.
Generally, textual presentation is resorted to if one wants to emphasize
salient characteristics exhibited by the data.

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Forms of Data Presentation
Tabular Presentation
Tabulation is the process of condensing classified data and arranging
them in a table. Characteristics such as occupation, sex, height, income,
weight, nationality, etc. make it possible for us to classify data under particular
headings. Through this process, data can more readily be understood and
comparisons may more easily be made. Also, when a single number is to be
presented, it may be necessary to present it along with other statistics in a table
to give it more meaning. If only two or three figures are needed, they can be
easily fitted into a textual presentation.

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Forms of Data Presentation
Tabular Presentation
There are two (2) types of tables according to the purpose for which it is
constructed:

1. General or reference table - used mainly as a repository of information;

its primary purpose is to present data in such a way that individual items
may easily be found by a reader; it is often placed in an appendix.

2. Summary or text table - usually small in size and designed to guide the
reader in analyzing the data; usually accompanies a text discussion.

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Forms of Data Presentation
Tabular Presentation
A formal statistical table consists of the following parts:
1. Heading - consists of the table number, table title, and headnote, when necessary.
2. Boxhead - portion of the table which consists of the spanner and column heads or
captions describing the data in each column.
3. Stub - contains the stub head, center heads and line captions; the first column on
the left where the line descriptions are.
4. Field (body) - depository of information appearing in the cells.
5. Footnote - statement qualifying or explaining the information presented in, or omitted
from specific cells, columns or lines.

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Forms of Data Presentation
Graphical Presentation
In many cases, it is useful to illustrate the statistics by means of graphs or charts. A
graph or chart is any device used in presenting numerical values or relationship in
pictorial form.

Advantages in using graphs or charts include the following:

1. There is a better comprehension of data than is possible with textual matter alone.
2. There is a more penetrating analysis of the subject than is possible in written text.
3. There is a check of accuracy.

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Some Commonly Used Graphs and Charts
Line Chart
The curve or line chart is the oldest, simplest, most familiar, and most widely used
method of presenting statistics graphically. The plotted points of the data are connected
by a solid or symbol line. The fluctuations of this line show the variations in the trend.
The distance of the plotting from the base line of the graph indicates the quantity. It is
particularly useful:

1. for emphasizing movement rather than actual amount

2. for representing time series
3. for comparing several series
4. when data cover a long period of timewhen estimates or
forecasts are to be shown
Example

Sales Student Enrolment Chart

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Some Commonly Used Graphs and Charts
Column Chart

The column chart is also referred to as the "vertical bar" chart. Its
primary purpose is to show numerical values of a given item over a period
of time. These values, either absolute or percent, are represented by the
height of the column.
Common types:

[Link]-column chart - used to compare two or sometimes three independent

series over a period of time.

[Link]-column chart - shows the component parts of a total. These should

be few in number and each should carry a
distinctive pattern so that it may be readily identified.

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Example

Group Column Chart Subdivided Column Chart

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Some Commonly Used Graphs and Charts
Horizontal Bar Chart
The horizontal bar chart is the simplest form of graph comparing different items as of a
specified date. Bars may be arranged in numerical or alphabetical order, depending
on the purpose of the chart and the given data.

Just like the vertical bar chart, the horizontal bar chart has its equivalent grouped-bar and
subdivided-bar charts.
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Some Commonly Used Graphs and Charts
Pie Chart
The pie chart is a circular diagram that is
divided into sections to show the
composition of a whole. The size of
each section is indicative of the
proportion to the total of the
corresponding component.

Pie charts are very useful when there are

few components to a whole.
Too many components (more than six)
would diminish the visual impact of
the chart; it will be difficult to compare
the sizes of the sections.

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Graphical Presentation
Statistical Map
This type of chart is used to present geographical statistics. It should be used only when
geographic distribution is of permanent importance and when data can be readily and
correctly interpreted in this form.

Common types:
1. Shaded or cross-hatched map - shading patterns used should be distinctive in order
that differences in area may be readily contrasted and that similar situations may be
easily compared. A particular portion of the map not under discussion is left white.
2. Dot-map chart
a. Dot-location map- shows the dot in the exact geographic location of the data
described; often used in the form of a pin or tack map showing where representatives
of a company are located, where branch stores are situated, etc.
b. Dot-density map - dots representing numerical values are plotted in the approximate
geographic location; may show crop production in provinces, number of accidents at
street intersections of a city, etc.
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Some Commonly Used Graphs and Charts
Statistical Map

Note: When there are more than one variable depicted, different geometric symbols may be used for
the dots.
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