Introduction:
Within the dynamic research landscape, primary data—foundational bedrock that it is—allows investigators to unveil novel dimensions of understanding. This article plunges into an exploration of primary data's essence: its methods and significance; moreover, it underscores the pivotal role--shaping credible research--that this often overlooked aspect plays.
Statistical Data Types:
Categories of data:
Any statistical data can be
classified under two categories depending upon the sources utilized. These
categories are,
1. Primary Data 2. Secondary Data
Primary data:
Define Primary Data:
Primary data is the one, which is
collected by the investigator himself for the purpose of a specific inquiry or
study. Such data is original in character and is generated by survey conducted
by individuals or research institution or any organisation.
If a researcher is interested to
know the impact of noon meal scheme for the school children, he has to
undertake a survey and collect data on the opinion of parents and children by
asking relevant questions. Such a data collected for the purpose is called
primary data.
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| Primary data | Data collection methods |
Data Collection methods :
The primary data can be collected by the following five methods.
1. Direct personal interviews.
2. Indirect Oral interviews.
3. Information from
correspondents.
4. Mailed questionnaire method.
5. Schedules sent through
enumerators.
1. Direct personal interviews:
Data collection Process:
The persons from whom informations
are collected are known as informants. The investigator personally meets them
and asks questions to gather the necessary informations. It is the suitable
method for intensive rather than extensive field surveys. It suits best for
intensive study of the limited field.
Merits:
1. People willingly supply
informations because they are approached personally. Hence, more response
noticed in this method than in any other method.
2. The collected informations are
likely to be uniform and accurate. The investigator is there to clear the
doubts of the informants.
3. Supplementary informations on
informant’s personal aspects can be noted. Informations on character and
environment may help later to interpret some of the results.
4. Answers for questions about
which the informant is likely to be sensitive can be gathered by this method.
5. The wordings in one or more
questions can be altered to suit any informant. Explanations may be given in
other languages also. Inconvenience and misinterpretations are thereby avoided.
Limitations:
1. It is very costly and time
consuming.
2. It is very difficult, when the
number of persons to be interviewed is large and the persons are spread over a
wide area.
3. Personal prejudice and bias
are greater under this method.
2. Indirect Oral Interviews:
Data collection process:
Under this method the
investigator contacts witnesses or neighbours or friends or some other third
parties who are capable of supplying the necessary information. This method is
preferred if the required information is on addiction or cause of fire or theft
or murder etc.,
If a fire has broken out a certain place, the persons living in
neighbourhood and witnesses are likely to give information on the cause of
fire. In some cases, police interrogated third parties who are supposed to have
knowledge of a theft or a murder and get some clues. Enquiry committees
appointed by governments generally adopt this method and get people’s views and
all possible details of facts relating to the enquiry.
This method is suitable
whenever direct sources do not exists or cannot be relied upon or would be
unwilling to part with the information.
The validity of the results
depends upon a few factors, such as the nature of the person whose evidence is
being recorded, the ability of the interviewer to draw out information from the
third parties by means of appropriate questions and cross examinations, and the
number of persons interviewed. For the success of this method one person or one
group alone should not be relied upon.
3. Information from correspondents:
Data collection process:
The investigator appoints local
agents or correspondents in different places and compiles the information sent
by them. Informations to Newspapers and some departments of Government come by
this method.
The advantage of this method is that it is cheap and appropriate
for extensive investigations. But it may not ensure accurate results because
the correspondents are likely to be negligent, prejudiced and biased. This
method is adopted in those cases where informations are to be collected
periodically from a wide area for a long time.
4. Mailed questionnaire method:
Data collection process:
Under this method a list of
questions is prepared and is sent to all the informants by post. The list of
questions is technically called questionnaire. Covering letters accompanying
the questionnaire explains the purpose of the investigation and the importance
of correct informations and request the
informants to fill in the blank spaces
provided and to return the form within a specified time.
This method is
appropriate in those cases where the informants are literates and are spread
over a wide area.
Merits:
1. It is relatively cheap.
2. It is preferable when the
informants are spread over the wide area.
Limitations:
1. The greatest limitation is
that the informants should be literates who are able to understand and reply
the questions.
2. It is possible that some of the persons who receive the questionnaires do not return them
3. It is difficult to verify the correctness of the informations furnished by the respondents. With the view of minimizing non-respondents and collecting correct information, the questionnaire should be carefully drafted. There is no hard and fast rule.
But the following general principles may be helpful in framing the questionnaire. A covering letter and a self addressed and stamped envelope should accompany the questionnaire.
The covering letter should politely point out the purpose of the survey and privilege of the respondent who is one among the few associated with the investigation. It should assure that the informations would be kept confidential and would never be misused. It may promise a copy of the findings or free gifts or concessions etc.,
Characteristics of a good questionnaire:
1. Number of questions should be
minimum.
2. Questions should be in logical
orders, moving from easy to more difficult questions.
3. Questions should be short and
simple. Technical terms and vague expressions capable of different
interpretations should be avoided.
4. Questions fetching YES or NO
answers are preferable. There may be some multiple choice questions requiring lengthy
answers are to be avoided.
5. Personal questions and
questions which require memory power and calculations should also be avoided.
6. Question should enable cross
check. Deliberate or unconscious mistakes can be detected to an extent.
7. Questions should be carefully
framed so as to cover the entire scope of the survey.
8. The wording of the questions
should be proper without hurting the feelings or arousing resentment.
9. As far as possible confidential
informations should not be sought.
10. Physical appearance should be
attractive, sufficient space should be provided for answering each question.
5. Schedules sent through Enumerators:
Under this method enumerators or
interviewers take the schedules, meet the informants and filling their replies.
Often distinction is made between the schedule and a questionnaire. A schedule
is filled by the interviewers in a face-to-face situation with the informant. A
questionnaire is filled by the informant which he receives and returns by post.
It is suitable for extensive surveys.
Merits:
1. It can be adopted even if the
informants are illiterates.
2. Answers for questions of
personal and pecuniary nature can be collected.
3. Non-response is minimum as enumerators
go personally and contact the informants.
4. The informations collected are
reliable. The enumerators can be properly trained for the same.
5. It is most popular methods.
Limitations:
1.
It
is the costliest method.
2.
Extensive
training is to be given to the enumerators for collecting correct and uniform
informations.
3. Interviewing requires experience.
Unskilled investigators are likely to fail in their work.
Before the actual survey, a pilot
survey is conducted. The questionnaire/Schedule is pre-tested in a pilot
survey. A few among the people from whom actual information is needed are asked
to reply. If they misunderstand a question or find it difficult to answer or do
not like its wordings etc., it is to be altered. Further it is to be ensured
that every question fetches the desired answer.
Primary Data Advantages and Disadvantages:
1. The collection of data by the
method of personal survey is possible only if the area covered by the
investigator is small. Collection of data by sending the enumerator is bound to
be expensive. Care should be taken twice that the enumerator record correct
information provided by the informants.
2. Collection of primary data by
framing a schedules or distributing and collecting questionnaires by post is
less expensive and can be completed in shorter time.
3. Suppose the questions are
embarrassing or of complicated nature or the questions probe into personnel
affairs of individuals, then the schedules may not be filled with accurate and
correct information and hence this method is unsuitable.
4. The information collected for
primary data is mere reliable than those collected from the secondary data.
In the realm of research projects, case studies serve as potent tools for gaining insights into real-world complexities and contextual understandings through in-depth analysis of specific instances.
Focus groups: These are small assemblies of individuals who engage in discussions about specific topics; they offer qualitative data through their interactions and dialogues.
Typically, the process of data collection involves four key steps: planning; designing data collection tools; gathering necessary information--an undertaking that can be achieved through various methods such as surveys, experiments or interviews; and finally analyzing results. The types of data fall into two categories: quantitative which is numeric in nature – often collected via surveys and experiments–and qualitative–non-numeric insights usually garnered from focus groups or individual interviews.
The research project's primary data collection method hinges on three factors: the research objectives, available resources, and study nature. Each method possesses unique strengths and limitations; therefore--to garner a comprehensive understanding of the subject--researchers frequently employ multiple methods in tandem.