INTRODUCTION
Data collection , is in fact , the most important aspect of a
statistical survey . The term data as used in statistics means
quantitative data. Qualitative aspects like intelligence ,
honesty , good or bad has no significance in statistics until and
unless these are assigned some figures . Qualitative aspects
when expressed numerically can be studied in statistics.
PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY DATA
PRIMARY DATA
Data collected by the investigator for his own purpose , for the
first time ,from beginning to end , is called primary data . It is
collected from the source of origin.
The concerned investigator is the first person to collect this
information . The primary data are therefore , a first- hand
information.
Eg . You may be interested in studying the socio-economic status
of those students studying in BBA-I class who secured first
division in their XII examination . You collect information
regarding their pocket allowance , their family income
,educational status , their family members and the like. all this
information would be termed as primary information or primary
data ,since you happen to be the first person to collect this
information from the source of its origin.
SECONDARY DATA
Secondary data are those which are already in existence, and which
have been collected , for some other purpose than the answering of the
question in hand.
These data have already been collected by somebody else , these are
available in form of published or unpublished reports ,therefore called
Second-hand data.
Eg . Data relating to Indian Railways which are annually published by
the Railway Board would be secondary data for any researcher.
DISTINCTION BETWEEN PRIMARY
DATA AND SECONDARY DATA
1 Difference in originality
2 Difference in Suitability of objectives
3 Difference in cost of collection
1 Difference in originality
Primary data are original because these are collected by
the investigator from the source of their origin . Primary
data are used as raw material.
Secondary data are already in existence and , therefore
,are not original . Secondary data are finished products.
2 Difference in suitability of objectives
Primary data are always related to a specific objective of
the investigator . These data , therefore , do not need any
adjustment for the concerned study.
Secondary data have already been collected for some
other purpose . Therefore ,this data need to be adjusted
to suit the objective of study in hand.
3 Difference in cost of collection
Primary data are Costlier in terms of time ,money and
efforts involved than the secondary data . This is because
primary data are simply collected for the first time from
their source of origin.
Secondary data are simply collected from the published or
unpublished reports . Accordingly these are much less
expensive.
METHODS OF COLLECTING
PRIMARY DATA
METHODS OF COLLECTING PRIMARY DATA
1 Direct Personal Investigation 4 Mailed Questionnaire
method
2 Indirect Oral Investigation 5 Schedules sent through
Enumerators
3 Information from Correspondents
1 Direct Personal Investigation
In this method , data are collected personally by the investigator .
There is face-to-face contact with the persons from whom the
information is to be obtained . Data are collected by asking questions
relating to the enquiry to the informants.
SUITABILTY-
This method is suitable particularly when:
➢ the field of investigation is limited;
➢ a greater degree originality of the data is required;
➢ information is to be kept secret;
➢ investigation needs lot of expertise , care and devotion.
MERITS
Originality Data have a high degree of originality according to this method.
Accuracy Data are fairly accurate when personally collected.
Reliable Because the information is collected by the investigator himself , reliability
of the data is not doubted.
Uniformity There is a fair degree of uniformity in the data collected by the
investigator himself from the informants . Comparison becomes easy because of
uniformity of data.
Other Information When in direct contact with the informants ,the investigator may
obtain any other related information as well.
Flexible This method is fairly flexible because the investigator can always make
necessary adjustments in his set of questions.
DEMERITS
Not proper for wide areas
Direct personal investigation becomes very difficult when the
area of the study is very wide.
Personal Bias
This method is highly prone to the personal bias of the investigator .
As a result , the data may loose their credibility .
Costly
This method is very expensive in terms of the time , money and efforts
evolved.
Wrong Conclusions In this method , area of investigation is generally small . The
results are , therefore, less representative . This may led to wrong Conclusions.
2 Indirect Oral Investigation
In this method ,the investigator obtains the information not from those
persons for whom the information is needed . Information is collected
orally from other persons who are expected to possess the necessary
information . These other persons are known as witnesses.
This investigation is usually adopted in those cases where information
through direct source is not possible or less reliable.
For Example , if a case of murder is to be investigated , it would be quite impossible to
know the facts by contacting the persons directly who are involved in it . In such a case
information is to be obtained from third persons such as friends ,neighboursetc.
Suitability
the field of investigation is large.
It is not possible to have direct contact with the concerned informants.
the concerned informants are not capable of giving information because of
their ignorance.
Enquiry committees and commissions appointed by the Government D
generally adopted this method.
MERITS
Wider Area This method can be applied even when the field of investigation is
very wide.
Less costly This is relatively a less costly method.
Expert Opinion Using this method an investigator can seek opinion of the experts
and thereby make his information more reliable.
Free from Bias This method is relatively free from the personal bias of the
investigator.
Simple This is relatively a simple method of data collection.
DEMERITS
Less Accurate The data collected by this method are relatively less
accurate . This is because the information is obtained from persons
other than the concerned informants.
Biased There is possibility of personal bias of the witness giving
information.
Wrong Conclusions This method may lead to doubtful conclusions
due to ignorance and D carelessness of the witness.
3 Information from Local Sources or Correspondents
In this method ,the investigator appoints local agents or
correspondents in different places to collect the information .
These correspondents collect the information in their own way
and send the same to the central office where the data are
processed . Newspaper agencies generally adopt this method.
This method is also adopted by various government
departments where regular information is to be collected from a
wide area.
Suitability
➢accuracy of the data is only modestly needed
➢regular and continuous information are needed
➢the area of investigation is large
➢the information is to be used by journals , magazines etc.,
MERITS
Economical This method is quite economical in terms of time, money
or efforts involved
Wider Coverage Investigator can cover wider area.
Continuity The correspondents keep on supplying almost regular
information.
Suitable for special purpose This method is particularly advantageous for
some special purpose investigations e.g., price quotations from the different grain
markets for the construction of Index Number of Agricultural Prices..
DEMERITS
Less Originality In this method , there is less originality . Investigation
depends more on estimation rather than actual enumeration.
Lack of Uniformity There is lack of uniformity of data. This is because
data is collected by a number of correspondents.
Personal Bias This method suffers from the personal bias of the
correspondents.
Less accurate The data collected by this method are not very
accurate.
4 Mailed Questionnaire Method
In this method, a list of questions relating to the survey is prepared and sent to the
informants by post . The questionnaire contains questions and provides space for
answers.. A covering letter is addressed to the informant explaining the object of survey
and making a request to fill up the questionnaire and send it back with in a specified
time. It is assured that the information would be kept secret. The informants write the
answers against the questions and return the completed questionnaire to the
investigator.
SUITABILTY
➢the area of the study is very wide
➢when the informants are educated.
MERITS
Economical This method is economical in terms of time ,
money and efforts involved.
Originality This method is original and , therefore , fairly
reliable . This is because the information is supplied by the
concerned persons themselves.
Wider Area This method can cover wider areas.
DEMERITS
Lack of interest Generally, the informants do not take interest in questionaries'
and fail to return the questionarries.Those who return, often send incomplete
answers.
Lack of Flexibility This method lacks flexibility in the sense that when the
questions are not properly replied, these cannot be changed to obtain the required
information.
Limited Use This method has limited use in that questionnaires are answered
only by the educated informants.
Biased If the informants are biased, the information will also be biased.
Less Accuracy The conclusions based on such investigations have only limited accuracy. This is
because some questions may be difficult and accurate answers may not be possible.
5 Schedules Filled through Enumerators
In this method, a questionnaire is prepared as per the purpose of enquiry.
The enumerator himself approaches the informant with the
questionnaire. The questionnaires which are filled by the enumerators
themselves by putting questions are called schedules.
Enumerators are those persons who help the investigators in collecting
the data. The enumerators are given training to fill the schedules and put
the questions intelligently in the interest of accuracy of information.
Suitability
➢Field of investigation is large.
➢the investigation needs specialized and skilled investigators.
➢the investigator are well versed in the local language and
cultural norms of the informants.
MERITS
Wide Coverage This method is capable of wider coverage in terms of
the area involved . Even illiterates will also provide information.
Accuracy There is a fair degree of accuracy in results. This is because
investigations are done by specialized enumerators.
Personal Contact In this method there is personal contact with the
informants. Accordingly , accurate and right answers are obtained.
Impartiality This method is impartial .This is because enumerators
themselves do not need the required information ; so they are
impartial to the nature of information they obtain.
Complete
Schedules have the merits of completeness , because they are
filled in by the enumerators themselves.
DEMERITS
Expensive This is a very expensive method of investigation because of
the involvement of the trained investigator.
Difficulties regarding Enumerators
Competent enumerators may not be available . Accuracy of the
information accordingly suffers.
Time Consuming Enumerators may need specialized training for
particular investigators . The process of investigation thus becomes
time consuming.
Not suitable for private investigation Since this method is very
expensive, it is generally not suitable for private investigations. This
method is generally used by the government institutions.
Inaccurate Data
If the enumerators are biased, the data will not be accurate.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD
QUESTIONNAIRE
QUESTIONNAIRE
A questionnaire is a list of questions relating to the field of
enquiry and provides space for answers . It may be defined as
an instrument of collecting primary data from a large number
of persons . The success of the investigation largely depends
upon the drafting of the questionnaire.
1 Limited number of Questions
The number of questions should be as limited as possible.
Questions should be only relating to the purpose of enquiry.
2 Simplicity
Language of the questions should be simple and clear.
Questions should be short and not long or complex.
Mathematical questions be avoided.
3 Proper order of the questions
Questions must be placed in a proper order.
4 No Undesirable questions
Undesirable questions or personal questions in particular
must be avoided. Questions likely to offend the personal,
social and religious feelings of the informants be avoided.
5 Calculations
Questions involving calculations be avoided. Investigators
himself should do the calculations job.
6 Pre- Testing Before giving the questionnaire a final shape, it should be
subjected to pre- test. To achieve this objective , some questions be asked from the
informants on trial basis. If their answers involve some difficulty, the same be changed
accordingly . Such testing is technically called pilot survey.
7 Instructions
Clear instructions for filling the questionnaire form be issued.
8 Cross Verification
Such questions should also be asked as may help cross
verification.
9 Request for Return
Request should be made to return the questionnaire duly
filled in . The informants be assured that the information conveyed
by him will be treated as confidential.
METHODS OF COLLECTING
SECONDARY DATA
Methods of collecting secondary data
1 Published Sources
2 Unpublished Sources
Published Sources
1 Government Publications
Ministries of the central and state governments in India Publish a variety of
statistics as their routine activity. As these are published by the Government, data
are fairly reliable. Some of the notable Government publications on Statistics are
statistical Abstract of India, Annual Survey of Industries.
2 Semi-Government Publications
Semi-Government Bodies (such as Municipalities)data relating to
education,health,births and deaths. These data are also fairly reliable and useful.
Published Sources
3 Reports of Committees and Commissions
Committees and Commissions appointed by the Government also furnish lot of
statistical information in their reports. Finance Commission, Planning Commission
are some of the notable commissions in India which supply detailed statistics
information in their reports.
4 Publications of Trade Associations
Some of the big trade associations, through their statistical and research divisions,
collect and publish data on various aspects of trading activity. For example, Sugar
Mills Association published information regarding Sugar mills in India.
Published Sources
5 Publications of Research Institutions
Various universities and research institutions publish information regarding their
research activities. In India, Indian Statistical Institute publish a variety of statistical
data as a regular feature.
6 Journals and papers
Many newspapers such a s Economic Times as well as Magazines such as 'commerce'
also supply a large variety of statistical information
Published Sources
7 Publications of Research Scholars
Individual research scholars also sometimes publish their research
work containing some useful statistics information.
8 International Publications
International Organizations such as U.N.O ,I.M.F and foreign governments ,etc,also
publish lot of statistical information. These are used as secondary data.
Unpublished Sources
There are some unpublished sources as well. These data are
collected by the government organizations and others,
generally for their self use or office record. These data are not
published. These unpublished numerical information's are,
however, used as secondary data.
PRECAUTIONS IN USE OF
SECONDARY DATA
1 Ability of the collecting organizations
One should check the ability of the organization which initially
collected the data. The data should be used only if collected by able,
experienced and impartial investigators.
2 Objective and Scope
One should note the objective of collecting data as well as the scope
of investigation . Data should be used only if the objective and scope
of the study undertaken earlier match with the objective and scope of
the present study.
3 Method of collection
The method of collection of data by the original investigator should
also be noted. The method adopted must match the nature of
investigation.
4 Time and conditions of collection
One should also make sure regarding the period of investigation as
well as the conditions of investigations. For example, data collected
during war times may not be suitable to generalize certain facts
during peace times.
5 Definition of the unit
One should also make sure that the units of measurement used in the
initial collection of data is the same as adopted in the present study. If
the unit of measurement differs, data must be readjusted before use.
6 Accuracy
Accuracy of the data should also be checked. If the available ,data do
not conform to the high degree of accuracy.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
IMPORTANT QUESTION
Distinguish between primary data and secondary data.
Explain the various methods that are used in the collection of primary data
pointing out their merits and demerits.
What do you mean by secondary data? Mention some of its sources. Explain briefly
the precautions to be taken while making use of secondary data.
What is questionnaire? What are the essential characteristics of a good
questionnaire?
