2. Data collection methods
There are many methods used to collect or obtain data for statistical
analysis. Three of the most popular methods are interviews, questionary
,schedules ,warranty cards, surveys.
3. Interviews
In social science, interviews are a method of data collection that involves
two or more people exchanging information through a series of questions
and answers. The questions are designed by a researcher to elicit
information from interview participants on a specific topic or set of topics.
4. Advantages
• Keep focus. The interviewer is the one that has control over the interview and
can keep the interviewee focused and on track to completion. Online and
mobile surveys are often completed during time convenient for the
respondent, but are often in the midst of other distractions such as texting,
reading and answering emails, video streaming, web surfing, social sharing,
and more. Face-to-face interviews are in-the-moment, free from technological
distractions.
• Accurate screening. Face-to-face interviews help with more accurate
screening. The individual being interviewed is unable to provide false
information during screening questions such as gender, age, or race. It is
possible to get around screening questions in online and mobile surveys.
Online and mobile surveys that offer incentives may actually encourage
answer falsification. Individuals may enter incorrect demographic information
so they are able to complete the survey and gain the incentive. The answers
the individual provides may all be truthful, but for the purpose of data analysis,
the data will be inaccurate and misleading.
5. Disadvantages
Conducting interview studies can be very costly as well as very time-
consuming.
Interview studies provide less anonymity, which is a big concern for many
respondents.
6. Questionnaires
• A questionnaire is a list of questions or items used to gather data from
respondents about their attitudes, experiences, or opinions.
7. Advantages
• Questionnaires are inexpensive
• Questionnaires are practical
• Questionnaires offer a quick way to get results
8. Disadvantages
• Differences in understanding and interpretation
• Hard to convey feelings and emotions
• Some questions are difficult to analyze because Questionnaires produce
a lot of data. Multiple-choice questions can be tabulated and graphed, but
open-ended questions are different.
9. Schedule
Schedule method of data collection are filled by research workers
enumerators. In the Questionnaire method, there is no scope for direct
personal contact with the respondents. In the Schedule method, there is
direct personal contact of the respondents with the enumerators.
11. Cons
Subject to misinterpretation, depending
on how questions are designed and asked Tendency for scope of data to
be limited-omission of underlying
behavior-al patterns
Time-consuming compared with less
formal methods
12. Warranty cards
It is a method for data collection in which postal size cards are used by
dealers of consumer durables to collect info regarding their product.
Information needed is printed in form of questions on the card and placed
inside the package along with the product to be filled a posted
back by the customer.
13. Pros
e
Doesn't take long to collect
Take data from the past
Some can be valid.example Government collected data
14. Cons
Don't know where its come from and how reliable it is
Might have no relevant data
Data can be over complicated
15. Surveys
Survey is defined as the act of examining a process or questioning a selected
sample of individuals to obtain data about a service, product, or process. Data
collection surveys collect information from a targeted group of people about
their opinions, behavior, or knowledge
17. Disadvantages
• Respondents may not feel encouraged to provide accurate, honest answers.
• Respondents may not feel comfortable providing answers that present
themselves in a unfavorable manner.
• Respondents may not be fully aware of their reasons for any given answer
because of lack of memory on the subject, or even boredom.
