Chapter -IX
Data Collection
Instruments
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Why Data is Required?
Research is scientific method of collecting,
organizing, presenting, analyzing and
interpreting the numerical information to
assist in making effective and efficient
decision.
Data should be collected carefully to meet
the purpose for which the inquiry was
planned.
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Types of Data
Data is value collected through record keeping
or polling, observing, or measuring. It includes
texts and numbers, figures & maps,
photographs & pictures.
It may be classified in various ways:
•Primary vs. Secondary data
•Internal vs. External data
•Subjective vs. Objective data
•Qualitative vs. Quantitative data
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Primary Sources of
Data
Questionnaire
Focus Group Discussion
Observation
Autobiographies & diaries
Interviews, surveys and field works
Letters and correspondences, speeches,
internet and e-mail communications
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Secondary Sources of
Data
First formal appearance of result
Articles published in scientific journals
reporting experimental research results
Proceeding of meetings, conferences and
symposia
Dissertations or theses
Census, economic statistics etc.
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Internal & External
Data
1. Internal data : Every firm, organization or
institution generates certain data which are
collected internally. These data are used to run
the day to day business of the organization.
Data related to production, sales, profit,
employees numbers and turnover, bad debts,
advertisement expenses etc.
2. External data : External data are collected
from outside sources. An organization may
collect data of production & sales of similar
industries, international trade, government
economic policy and macro economic indicators.
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Methods of Collecting Primary
Data
1. Questionnaire method : sent through post,
email and direct through enumerators.
2. Observation techniques: Participative and
Non Participative techniques
3. Interview method : Direct personal
interview ( in home, telephone & intercept
interview) and in-depth interview, personal
interviews
4. Focus Group discussion
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Questionnaire
• Questionnaire is a general term that
includes all techniques of data collection in
which each person is asked to respond to
the same set of questions in a pre-
determined order.
• It therefore includes both structured
interviews and telephone questionnaires as
well as those in which the questions are
answered without an interviewer being
present.
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Questionnaire
As each person (respondent) is asked to
respond to the same set of questions, it provides
an efficient way of collecting responses from a
large sample prior to quantitative analyses.
Questionnaire can be used as the only data
collection method, but also it is usually better to
link them with other methods, such as in-depth
interviews.
The design of a questionnaire differs according
to how it is administered and the amount of
contact you have with the respondents.
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Questionnaire Design
Objective of questionnaire is used to obtain
following information of respondents:
1. intention, 2. attitude, 3. demographic
characteristics, 4. behavior etc.
Designing of questionnaire is technical job.
Questionnaire should be straightforward so
that everyone can understand easily and
sufficient information can be obtained.
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Questionnaire
Design…
Type of Questions:
Open Ended Questions– Allow the respondents
to answer them in any way they choose.
Closed Questions– Restrict respondents within
the given alternatives.
Structured Questions - Respondents have to
answer within the given alternatives.
Unstructured Questions - Respondents can give
any answer as per their desire. No restriction to
answer.
Long vs. short questions – Long question
increases the cost and time as well as discourage
respondent to complete the questionnaire.
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Questionnaire
Design...
Wording – The word used in questionnaire should not
be ambiguous or complex. Easily understandable word
to be used.
Questions should be logically ordered depending on
the nature of the research like:
• From general to specific
•From easy to difficult
•From Factual to abstract
Physical appearance:
Should be attractive, neat and clean, size of letter to
be readable, enough space for answer, appropriate
introductions and instructions. Also consider , quality
of paper and size of paper, margin and spacing.
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Quality of Questionnaire
Avoid vagueness and confusion :
Do you eat meat regularly?
Do you withdraw your deposit from this bank regularly?
Avoid leading questions :
I am a leader of this college, I hope you will help me, Do
you?
Avoid double barrel questions : More than one
questions combined
Do you eat fruits and milk each day? Yes / No
Do you use ATM card and credit card of this bank? Yes /
No
Avoid technical words :
In your opinion which banks dividend payout ratio is
higher?
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Quality of Questionnaire
Avoid ‘recall dependent’ question:
In which subject did you obtain highest mark in class 8?
Provide enough alternative:
Marital Status : Single and Married ( but if the research
area is on social issue other alternatives also should be
used widow, divorced and separated )
Aware on sensitive issues social values & ethical
issues
Religion, political belief, personal secrecy etc.
End the questionnaire in a gentle and friendly
manner
Express your gratitude to your respondents for their
time and effort
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Example : Likert Type
Questions
Please check the number that corresponds to
your answer to the statement provided and
interpreted as follows. Please indicate the
extent to which you agree or disagree with the
following statement about the services you
received from your bank in your opinion.
[1=Strongly Agree, 2=Agree, 3=Neutral,
4=Disagree, 5=Strongly Disagree]
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Contd…
S.N. Reliability (timely and accurate) 1 2 3 4 5
a. The bank shows fair value
disclosure for loan.
b. The bank maintains error
free records.
c. The bank is able to deliver
all services in time.
d. The bank maintains every
transaction very
confidential.
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Contd…
S.N. Employee Motivation 1 2 3 4 5
a. The measurement system of performance
and incentives in the bank encouraged to
work well
b. The bank is keen to measure and reward
employee performance that contributes to
achieving its vision
c. The bank depends on the use of data and
information collected from staff to improve
their jobs
d. The bank informs the staff about the
importance of service roles that they do
e. Bank staffs who provide excellent services
get a good reward
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Contd…
S.N. Customer Satisfaction 1 2 3 4 5
a. The bank’s forms and slips are
easy to fill.
b. The bank provides timely service.
c. Bank charges are clearly
explained.
d. Internet banking and SMS
banking are easy to use
e. I am satisfied with the ATM
service of the bank.
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Features of Good
Questionnaire
Careful design of individual questions
Clear layout of the questionnaire form
Detailed explanation of the purpose of the
questionnaire
Carefully planned and executed
administration
Linkages between previous and next
questions
In a sequential order
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Types of Interview
Interview means a purposeful discussion
between two or more people.
• Structured interviews
– use questionnaires and standardized questions
• Semi-structured interviews
– use non-standardized questions. Researcher
uses themes as a guide
• Unstructured interviews
– use non-standardized questions. Totally informal
in approach. Heavy use of open ended questions.
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Conducting Effective
Interview
opening the interview
using appropriate language
questioning and talking
listening
testing and summarising understanding
noticing behavioural signals
recording data
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Participant Observation
complete participation
researcher attempts to become a member of the
group being studied, and does not reveal true
purpose
complete observation
watching what is going on, but does not become
a participant
observer as participant
the researcher has the role of a spectator/ he or
she may act as a member of the group; although
he or she is really not one.
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Advantages of participant
observation
• Good for explaining what is going on in social
situations
• Heightened the researcher’s awareness of
significant social processes
• Provide the opportunity to experience the
emotions of those being studied
• All data collected are likely to be useful
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Disadvantages of Participant
Observation
• Time consuming
• Poses difficult ethical dilemmas
• Can be high levels of conflict for the
researcher (are you a colleague or a
researcher first?)
• Closeness to situation can lead to researcher
bias
• Access can be difficult
• Data recording can be difficult
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Coding
Coding is a procedure of replacing a data
word with a code word. We should follow
certain rules to assigning code to the word
or text.
For example,
We can use N for Nepali, C for Chinese
and Cd for Canadian.
1 for male and 2 for female.
1 for CEO, 2 for Manager, 3 for Assistant,
4 for Helpers.
Strongly Agree -1, Agree -2, Not Decided –
3, Disagree-4, Strongly Disagree – 5.
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Editing
• Generally nominal and ordinal measurement
require coding.
• Interval and ratio measurements produce
numbers itself.
• All data should be enter in numerical form so
that statistical analysis is possible.
• But some variable can be assigned in text
instead of number, such as M for Male or F
for female.
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Thank You
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