Calicut university, Business research methods, 5th semester

1. 5. DATA COLLECTION
III B.Com Computer Application & Finance
Prepared By:
Ms. Leena K P
Don Bosco College, Mannuthy

2.  Reliability of managerial decisions  Quality of data [Ex: GIGO]
 Data are facts, figures and other relevant materials, past and present
serving as basis for study and analysis
 Importance:
- Base, Inferences, Findings, Testing hypothesis, Construction – scale, tables
 Classifications:
I. Primary & Secondary
II. Documentary Sources, Personal sources & Library Source
 Choice  factors
- Nature & scope, Money, Time, Accuracy, Status & Availability of
investigator/researcher

3. Primary data
 Collected for the first time
 Information generated to meet the specific requirements of the investigation at hand
 Methods:-
1. Observation 7. Mail survey
2. Experimentation 8.Projective techniques
3. Simulation 9. Sociometry
4. Interview 10. Focus group discussion
5. Use of telephone 11. Content analysis
6. Panel method

4. Secondary Data
 Already published
 Data compiled by some other agency than the user
 Modify for researcher’s use
 Check before collecting primary data
 Analysis of this attempts to re-interpret the original data set in relation to a new research
question
 For Identify & define problem, develop an approach to the problem, formulate research
design, questions, hypothesis testing, interpretations
Internal  Found within the organisation/unit
- Part of company’s record
Ex: Sales record, Cost information, Credit outstanding, Monthly collection report etc.
External From outside the company/unit
Ex: Government publications, foreign government publications, journals, publications of trade
associations, books, magazines, newspapers, annual reports, publications from
UNESCO,WHO,UNO , Census data, RBI bulletin etc.

5. Documentary Source
INDIVIDUAL
DOCUMENTS
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS UNPUBLISHED
RECORDS
Life history Published records Proceeding of meeting,
noting of files etc.
Diary Newspapers
Letters Journals & magazines
Memories Historical documents
Other Sources-film,
television, radio, public
speeches
Individual documents Recorded by individuals(thoughts & views)

6. Precautions
Minute scrutiny of available data
 Reliability  Who? Where? Methods? Time? Any bias? Accuracy etc.
 Suitability  Terms? Units? Object, scope, nature enquiry
 Adequacy  Level of accuracy
Collection of Primary Data
Quantitative Relatively large no. of responses, Range of possible
answers is known
Qualitative  In-depth information, Range of possible answers is unknown

7. Factors - Choice of Methods
 Nature  Individual Interview/mailing
Experimentation  Impact study
Behavioural pattern  Observation
 Unit of enquiry  Individual/ Household  Interview
Institutions  mail survey
Communities  Observation
 Size of sample  Small/ solid area  interview
Large/ scattered  Mailing
 Scale of survey  Large scale  mailing or interview through trained investigators
 Respondent’s education  Mail survey / interview
 Type & intensity of information  Factual & non-emotional  Interview / Mailing
In depth survey  Depth interview
Life style, culture, custom  Observation
 Availability of skilled personnel
 Accuracy  Interview

8. Observation
 “A systematic viewing of a specific phenomenon in its proper setting for the
purpose of gathering data for a particular study”
 Acquiring knowledge in social & physical science
 Features:-
1. Physical & mental activity
2. Selective
3. Purposive(formal?)
4. Grasps significant occurrences
5. Exact

9. Types of observation
1. Simple & Systematic
2. Subjective & Objective
3. Casual & scientific
4. Intra subjective & inter subjective
5. Factual & inferential
6. Direct & indirect
7. Obtrusive & unobtrusive
8. Disguised & undisguised
9. Participant & Non participant
10. Structured & unstructured
11. Controlled & Non controlled

10.  Components/Process Of Observation
 Sensation  Sense organs, physical attentiveness, keenness & personality of observer
 Attention  Concentration, Willpower, training, experience
 Perception  Helps mind to recognize facts by grouping & identifying sensations 
interpretation of sensory reports
 Objectives of observation
Collective behavior in complex social situation, Individual units whole & parts 
interrelation, details Indirect
 Success of observation
Problem formulation
Free mind
Vital facts
 Advantages & Disadvantages

11. Survey
 Method used for collecting primary data based on verbal or written
communication with a representative sample of individuals or
respondents from the target population
 Used for both descriptive and causal research
 Usually conducted by an interviewer  interacts with respondents
 Fact-finding study
 Phenomena cannot be observed directly – Questionnaire  Response
error/bias, Hesitant to reply, Interviewer error etc.
 Features & Objectives

12. Types of surveys
 Cross – sectional surveys - – No. of characteristics from sample
elements are collected and analysed, relationship found.# single point
of time
 Longitudinal Surveys - Event/occurrence is measured again and again
over a period of time, To observe continuity & change in response in
due course.
Trend Studies : Sample of same population; not same people. Long period
of time.
Cohort studies : Particular population studied more than once .Ex: 2018-21
Batch
Panel studies :
1. True Panel- Same panel, Same variables, Different time
2. Omni Bus – Same panel, Different variables, Different time

13.  Census Method:
- Whole population is studied
- Time, money & energy
- Universe is small – Good method
 Sample Method
- Small part/sample of universe is studied
 Sample survey, Fax survey, Internet survey, Mail
survey- Industrial & consumer, Media studies,
Multiple surveys & E-mail survey
 Merits & Demerits of survey
Methods of
Survey

14. Interview
 Tool for collecting primary data
 Study of social problems(Social research)
 Direct method of enquiry
 Face-to-face communication
 Interviewer &
interviewee/respondent/Informant
 Fact/Attitudes/Opinions/Intensions
 Steps:-
1. Preparation
2. Introduction
3. Developing relationship
4. Carrying the interview
5. Recording the interview
6. Closing the interview

17. Types of Interview
 Personal Interview- Informal verbal or non
verbal
 For single purpose(Focused)
 Single person-close personal contact
 Confidential personal aspects
 Structured or unstructured
 Group Interview – 6 to 8  common
interest
 Routine or customary Information
 Public amenities, public health projects,
welfare schemes etc.
 Formal Interview – Well-defined questions
 Informal Interview – Flexible
 Can make alterations as per his needs

18.  Focused Interview = Focus experience & its effects
 Background of emotional & intellectual atmosphere of the
problem
 Freedom Manner & sequence
 Usually unstructured
 Non-directive or Unstructured Interview – No control &
direction
 No predetermined questions
 No standardized technique of recording information
 Catalyst experience & feelings
 Diagnostic Interview- Among patients
 Causes of problems
 Treatment Interview- To make patients aware about their
condition & changes to be made

19.  Research Interview- Predermined questions
 Specific problem  Information
 Mixed Interview – Specific type of information
 Telephone Interview – Contact through telephone , Less
expensive
 In-Depth Interview – Unstructured
 One –on-one
 Skilled Interviewer
 To discover underlying motives & desires

20. Questionnaire & Schedule
 Bogardus- “A questionnaire is a list of questions sent to
a number of persons for them to answer. It secures
standardized results that can be tabulated and treated
statistically”
 A Schedule is a set of questions which are asked and
filled in by the interviewer in a face to face situation with
another person.
Characteristics of measurement instrument:-
 Accepted by all involved
 Mistake free
 Based on underlying theory or concept
 Capable of measuring change
Objectives:-
 Translate Information needed into questions
 Ensure respondent cooperation
 Minimise respondent error

21. Steps:-
 Defining the objectives of the survey
 Deciding on the information required
 Determining the sampling group
 Choose the method
 Writing the questions
- Introductory part
- Social background
- Main part of the questionnaire
Closed ended, Open ended, Open-response option, Dichotomous, Multiple choice
Order:- 1. Opening question 2. Question flow 3. Question variety 4. Closing
questions
 Administering the questionnaire
 Piloting the questionnaire
 Developing the final questionnaire

22. Forms of questionnaire
Structured
Non
structured
Closed Open
Mixed Fact Opinion Pictorial

24. Pointers
 Structure – Size, Length, Use one side of
paper, Margin & spacing
 Brevity
 Simplicity
 Ambiguity
 Sequence
 Arrangement
 Personal questions
 Leading questions
 Loaded questions
 Double barreled questions
 Nature of the response

25. Loaded Question
Double barrelled Question

26. Schedule
 A Schedule is a set of questions
which are asked and filled in by the
interviewer in a face to face
situation with another person.
 Steps:-
- Problems into portions
- Portions into sub aspects
- Questions
- Order of questions

27. Types of Schedule
 Observation schedule
 Evaluation schedule
 Document schedule
 Interview schedule
 Rating schedule
Merits & Limitations
Pre-testing of questionnaire & schedule
Difference between questionnaire &
schedule

31.  Reliability:
Internal consistency
Test-retest reliability
Inter-rater reliability
 Validity:
Content validity
Criterion validity
Face validity
Construct validity