This document discusses primary and secondary data sources. Secondary data is data gathered by someone else for a different purpose than the current project. It can be inexpensive and convenient to obtain, but may lack accuracy or relevance. Internal secondary data sources include accounting and sales information, while external sources include libraries, the internet, vendors and government records. The document also outlines various methods for collecting primary data, including observation, interviews, questionnaires, case studies and more. It provides details on structured versus unstructured interviews and questionnaires.

1. DATA SOURCES
PrimarySecondary
Internal External

2. Secondary Data
Data gathered and recorded by
someone else prior to and for a purpose
other than the current project.
Is often:
• Historical
• Already assembled
• Internal to corporation

3. Advantages of Secondary Data
 Inexpensive
 Obtained Rapidly
 Needs no access to respondents (convenient)
 Information is not otherwise accessible
 Can provide Insights into problem during
exploratory phase
 Can provide background data on trends etc.
which lends credibility to the report

4. Disadvantages of Secondary Data
 Lack of Availability (e.g. new products)
 Uncertain Accuracy
 Data not Consistent with Needs (not relevant)
 Inappropriate Units of Measurement
 Time Period Inappropriate (Dated)

5. Internal Data
 Accounting information
 Sales information
 Backorders
 Customer complaints

6. Sources of External Data
Library
Internet
Vendors
Producers
Books and periodicals
Government
Trade associations
Newspapers and journals

7. DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
• Primary Data:-
– Observation Method
– Interview Method
– Questionnaire Method
– Schedule Method
– Case Study
– Other Methods-
• Warranty cards
• Distributor audit
• Consumer Panel
• Depth Interviews
• Using various devices
• Secondary Data:-
– Published Data-
• Various Reports
• Newspaper, Magazines
• Public records & statistics
• Journals, newsletters
– Unpublished Data
• Diaries & letters
• Biographies
• Company record
• Associations, unions &
other original record

8. • It is mostly used for studies related to
behavioral science.
• In this method the information is sought by
way of investigator’s own direct observation
without asking from respondent.
• Example
• Investigator can see the brand of car used by
the respondent , no need to ask him
(respondent) about the brand.

9. • No subjective biasing, if observation is made
accurately.
• The information collated gives the idea which is
currently happening.
• Data is not complicated as it do not have any
relation with either past or future.
• Method is independent of respondents attitude
and intentions.
• Applicable for those respondents who are not
capable of giving verbal responses, like animals.

10. • It is an expensive method.
• Information provided by this method is very
limited.
• Some time unforeseen factors may interfere
with the observational task.
• In case of rare respondents the method
becomes tedious.

11. Questionnaire method
• A questionnaire is a means of eliciting the
feelings, beliefs, experiences, perceptions,
or attitudes of some sample of individuals.
As a data collecting instrument, it could be
structured or unstructured

12. Two types of questionnaires
• Closed or restricted form - calls for a "yes"
or "no" answer, short response, or item
checking; is fairly easy to interpret,
tabulate, and summarize.
• Open or unrestricted form - calls for free
response from the respondent; allows for
greater depth of response; is difficult to
interpret, tabulate, and summarize.

13. Interview method
An interview is a direct face-to-face attempt
to obtain reliable and valid measures in the
form of verbal responses from one or more
respondents. It is a conversation in which
the roles of the interviewer and the
respondent change continually.

14. Types of Interview: Structured interviews
• Rigidly standardized and formal.
• The same questions are presented in the same
manner and order to each subject.
• The choice of alternative answers is restricted to a
predetermined list.
• They are more scientific in nature than unstructured
interviews.
• They introduce controls that permit the formulation
of scientific generalizations

15. Unstructured interviews are flexible.
They have few restrictions.
If preplanned questions are asked, they are altered to
suit the situation and subjects.
Subjects are encouraged to express their thoughts
freely.
Only a few questions are asked to direct their answers.
In some instances, the information is obtained in such a
casual manner that the respondents are not aware they
are being interviewed
Types of Interview: Unstructured interviews

16. • Method of collecting information consists in
contacting participants on telephone itself.
• Advantages
–quickness, cost efficiency
• Disadvantages
–limited amount of information, limited
accessibility of people, have to remember
response options

17. Asynchronous Synchronous
Course Management System
Discussion Forums
Games for Drill & Practice
Reusable Learning Objects
Simulations/Animations
Blogs
Wikis
Chat
Video Conferencing
PowerPoint
Classroom Performance
System