6.
Types of Data:
• In Statistics, data collection is a process of gathering information from all
the relevant sources to find a solution to the research problem. It helps to
evaluate the outcome of the problem.
• The main sources of the data collections methods are “Data”. Data can be
classified into two types, namely primary data and secondary data.
Primary Data:
Primary data collection involves the collection of original data directly from the
source or through direct interaction with the respondents. This method allows
researchers to obtain firsthand information specifically tailored to their research
objectives.
Primary data may be obtained by applying any of the following methods:
1. Direct personal interview
2. Indirect oral interview
3. Information from correspondents
4. Mailed questionnaire method
5. Schedules sent through enumerators
a) Direct personal interview:
➢ In this method, information is collected personally from the sources
concerned. Under this method, the investigator personally interviews
everyone who is in a position to supply the information he requires.
➢ The investigator must possess the following qualities. The investigator
should have keen sense of observation, should be polite, courteous and
tactful.
➢ The questions should be asked in simple and easy language so that he
is able to obtain precise and correct answer and then only genuine data
may be collected.
b) Indirect oral interview:
➢ Under this method, when the information to be obtained is of a
complex nature or the persons concerned are unwilling to give the
required information.
➢ For instance, in case of thefts, fire accidents, addicts of alcoholic
drinks it becomes necessary to collect information from other people
like neighbours, friends, etc.
➢ In such cases, method of indirect personal investigation can be used to
collect the primary data. In this method, a small list of questions is
prepared and is put to different people and their answers are recorded.
➢ The accuracy of the information collected also depends upon the
nature of the witness. There is a need to contact several people to
arrive at better conclusions and utmost care should be exercised in this
method.
c) Information from correspondents:
➢ This method is useful when information is to be collected at regular
intervals from wide areas. This method is generally used by the news-
papers, periodicals, news channels etc.
➢ The government also collects information about prices, agricultural
production through this method.
➢ News paper agencies adopt this method, correspondents from different
places collect information on events like natural disasters, earth
quakes, floods, strikes, riots etc. and they are paid for it.
d) Mailed questionnaire method:
➢ Under this method, a questionnaire is prepared and sent to the
informants by post. The questionnaire method is the method in which
primary data is collected by distributing a list of questions related to
and probe those who are supposed to have knowledge about the
problem.
➢ Designing a questionnaire is a highly skilled job. The success of this
method depends upon the questionnaire. Hence, great care must be
taken while framing questions.
➢ The questions should be small, short and simple to understand. Vague
questions should be avoided. This method is generally used by
research scholars, non-government officials. This method can be
adopted only when informants are literate people.
e) Schedules sent through enumerators:
➢ In this method, collecting information is through schedules. A
schedule consists of a list of questions for collecting information.
➢ These schedules are sent through trained enumerators. The
enumerators go to the informants along with the questionnaire get
replies to the questions contained in the schedules and fill them in
their own hand-writing.
➢ The essential difference between questionnaire method and schedule
method is that questionnaire is sent to the informants by post and
filled up by them, while schedule is carried by the enumerators
personally to the informants and is filled up by the enumerators.
➢ However, this is very expensive. It is used by government. For every
ten years Govt. of India used to collect population census all over the
India through this method.
Secondary Data:
➢ The statistical data which have already been collected by some agency
and are compiled from that source by the inquirer for his use are called
secondary data.
➢ Secondary data are collected when adequate and authentic statistical
information is already available and when there is waste of time and
money to collect fresh statistical information.
➢ Thus, secondary data are those which already exist in some form or the
other published or unpublished.
i) Published Sources:
Published sources of secondary data basically refers to various national/
International organization/agencies which collect and publish the data
relating to business, trade, price, consumption, production, investment,
savings, population, unemployment, banks and financial institutions, etc.
These publications offer very useful sources of secondary data.
They are:
1. Publications of the central and State governments, foreign
governments and international bodies like IBRD, IMF, ADB, HDR,
UNO, WTO, WHO etc.
2. Publications of Semi-Government organizations. Eg: Reserve Bank of
India Bulletins, Reports on Currency and Finance
3. Publications of CSO and NSSO.
4. Publications of various Chambers of commerce, Trade Associations
and Co-operative Societies
5. Reports of various committees and commissions appointed by the
government.
ii) Unpublished Sources:
It covers all those sources of secondary data where records are
maintained by private agencies or business firms for their own use
are restrictedly available for use of general public. Data collected by
research institutions are also included in the category of
unpublished sources of secondary data.
