CHAPTER 2 COLLECTION OF DATA

Contents:-
Sources of data
Primary and Secondary data
Methods of collecting Primary data
Sources of secondary data

1. SOURCES OF DATA-PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCE

There are two sources of data:-

1) Primary source:-
 Primary source of data means collection of data from its source of origin.
 It offers first hand information relating to our statistical study.

2) Secondary source:-
 Secondary source of data means collection of data from some other
agency/institution which have already collected the data through statistical survey.
 It does not offer first hand information relating to our statistical study.

2. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA

Primary data (First hand data):- Secondary data (Second hand data):-
Primary data are those which are originally The data which are not directly collected from
collected by an investigator or agency for the the source of its origin but obtained from the
first time for some specific purpose. published or unpublished sources are known
Or as Secondary data.
Primary data are the information collected
directly by a person or agency for the first For example:-Economic Survey published by
time for some specific purpose. Government of India, National Accounts
Statistics published by the CSO.
For example:-Population census conducted by
Government of India. Notes:-
 They are already in existence and they were
Notes:- collected by other agency for some other
purpose.
 The source from which primary data are
 The source from which secondary data is
collected are called the primary source. collected is called the secondary source.
 Primary data are original in character  These are not Original data because the
because they are collected for the first enumerators or investigators do not collect these
time. data from the source of its origin. They simply
make use of the data collected by the others.
Difference between Primary data and Secondary data
Basis Primary data Secondary data
Originality Primary data are original because they are Secondary data are not original because they
collected by the investigator from the source are already in existence and they were
of its origin. collected by other agency.
Adjustment Primary data are collected for a specific Secondary data are already in existence and
purpose by the investigator, so they fit the they were collected by other agency for some
study perfectly and don’t need any other purpose.
adjustments. Therefore, these data need to be adjusted to
fit the objective of the study.
Time factor Primary data requires longer time for its Secondary data requires less time for its
collection. collection.
Cost Primary data are costlier than secondary data Secondary data are collected from the
factor in terms of time, money and efforts because published or unpublished materials.
primary data are collected for the first time Therefore, these are much cheaper than
from their sources of origin. primary data.

3. METHODS OF COLLECTING PRIMARY DATA

1. Interviews 2.Information 3.Telephonic

through interviews
Questionnaires
A. Direct Personal interviews/Direct A. Mailing(Questionnaire)
personal investigation Surveys
B. Indirect Personal interviews/Indirect B. Enumerator’s Method
oral Investigation
C. Information from local Sources
 1. Personal Interviews
A. B. C.
Direct Personal investigation Indirect Oral Investigation Information from local sources
Or Or or correspondents
Direct personal interviews Indirect personal interviews (Khabri)
Meaning and concept Meaning and Concept Meaning and Concept
 In this method data are In this method, the information In this method, the investigator
personally collected by the is not collected from the appoints local persons
investigator/researcher from concerned person but collected (correspondents) at different places.
the respondents. orally from other persons who They collect information in their
 The researcher or investigator have the information. own way and submit the same to
conduct face to face These other persons are known the investigator.
interviews with the witnesses.
respondents. Suitability
 Example:- Direct contact with Example:- By this method, the  When information is required
the workers of an industry to data on the economic conditions regularly.
obtain information about their of the workers may be collected  When the area of investigation
economic conditions. from their employers instead of is large
the workers themselves.  When Information is to be used
Suitability by magazines, radio, TV etc
 Where the field of investigation is Suitability  When High degree of accuracy
not very large.  Where the field of investigation is is required
 When direct contact with the large.
respondents is possible.  When direct contact with the
 Where Information must be kept respondents is not possible. Merits
secret (sensitive information)  When Concerned person is not  Wide coverage
capable of giving information
 Where greater degree of originality  Less expensive/Economical in
and accuracy of data is required. because of their illiteracy or
ignorance. terms of time, money or efforts
 When investigation is so  Regular information
Merits complex that only experts can
 Provide Reliable information give information. Demerits
because investigator personally
collected the data.
Merits  Less Accurate
 Data are Accurate when personally  Wide coverage  Delay in collection
collected.  Less expensive in  Lack of originality (due to lack
 Data have a high degree of comparison to direct of personal contact with the
originality. personal interview. investigator)
 This method is elastic/flexible
 Simple  Possibility of personal bias of
because the investigator can always
 Expert opinion the correspondent.
make necessary adjustments in his
questions.
Demerits Demerits
 Difficult to cover wide areas  Less Accurate
 Costly  Possibility of personal bias of
 Time Consuming the witnesses
 Limited coverage  Doubtful conclusions due to
carelessness of the
witnesses
2. Information through Questionnaires and Schedules
In this method, the investigator creates a questionnaire based on the goal of the study. There
are two ways to collect information using a questionnaire:-
1. Mailing (Questionnaire) Surveys 2. Enumerator’s Method
 In this method, investigator sends the  In this method, a questionnaire is
questionnaires to respondents by mail. prepared on the basis of purpose of the
 A letter is attached with the questionnaires study.
in which purpose of enquiry is written  The enumerator personally meets the
 The respondent fills out the questionnaire respondent, asks the questions, and fills
and sends it back to the investigator. out the questionnaire with the
information given.
Suitability Note:-
 The questionnaires which are filled by the
 When the area of investigation/study is enumerators themselves by asking questions are
very large/wide. called schedules.
 When the respondents are educated  Enumerator is a person who actually collects the
statistical data. Generally they are hired by the
investigator for field work. Training is given to
Merits enumerator to fill the schedules.
 Less expensive/Economical in terms of
time, money and efforts. Suitability
 Wide coverage  When the area of investigation/study is
large/wide.
Demerits  High degree of accuracy is required.
 This method can not be used when  When respondents are uneducated.
respondents are uneducated.
 Generally, the respondents do not take Merits
interest in questionnaires and do not  Information can be obtained even from
return the questionnaires. Those who an illiterate person.
return, send incomplete answers.  High degree of accuracy because of
 Less accuracy because respondents do not personal contact with the respondent.
fill the answers seriously.  No incomplete answers because
 If the respondent is biased, then the enumerators fills the answers himself.
information will also be biased.
Demerits
 Expensive/Costly in terms of money,
time and efforts.
 If enumerators are biased, then the data
will not be accurate.
 This method is not suitable for private
investigation because it is very
expensive. This method is generally used
by the government.

3. Telephonic Interview
In this method, data are collected by the investigator from the respondents over the
telephone.
Merits Demerits
 Originality  Not suitable when area of
 Accuracy study/investigation is large.
 Reliability  Not suitable when there are so many
 Economical questions in the investigation.
 It saves the respondents from feeling  Not suitable when the respondent
uncomfortable, which could happen in a belongs to poorer section of the society
face-to-face interview. as he may not have own telephone.

Qualities of a good Questionnaire

 Number of questions should be Limited
 Language of the questions should be simple and clear
 Questions should be short
 Questionnaire must have clear instructions for filling the form
 Undesirable questions or personal questions must be avoided
 No Controversial questions should be asked
 Questions involving calculations by the respondent must be avoided
 Respondent must be assured that the information given by him will be treated as
confidential.