What is Collection of Data - Nature, Types & Examples | Statistics
Data Collection:
Everybody collects, interprets
and uses information, much of it in a numerical or statistical form in
day-to-day life. It is a common practice that people receive large quantities
of information everyday through conversations, televisions, computers, the
radios, newspapers, posters, notices and instructions.
It is just because there is so
much information available that people need to be able to absorb, select and
reject it. In everyday life, in business and industry, certain statistical
information is necessary and it is independent to know where to find it how to
collect it.
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| Data Collection |
As consequences, everybody has to
compare prices and quality before making any decision about what goods to buy.
As employees of any firm, people want to compare their salaries and working conditions,
promotion opportunities and so on. In time the firms on their part want to
control costs and expand their profits.
One of the main functions of
statistics is to provide information which will help on making decisions.
Statistics provides the type of information by providing a description of the present,
a profile of the past and an estimate of the future.
The following are some of the
objectives of collecting statistical information.
1. To describe the methods of
collecting primary statistical information.
2. To consider the status
involved in carrying out a survey.
3. To analyse the process
involved in observation and interpreting.
4. To define and describe
sampling.
5. To analyse the basis of
sampling.
6. To describe a variety of
sampling methods.
Statistical investigation is a
comprehensive and requires systematic collection of data about some group of
people or objects, describing and organizing the data, analyzing the data with the
help of different statistical method, summarizing the analysis and using these
results for making judgments, decisions and predictions.
The validity and accuracy of
final judgement is most crucial and depends heavily on how well the data was
collected in the first place.
The quality of data will greatly
affect the conditions and hence at most importance must be given to this
process and every possible precaution should be taken to ensure accuracy while
collecting the data.
Nature of data:
It may be noted that different
types of data can be collected for different purposes. The data can be
collected in connection with time or geographical location or in connection
with time and location.
The following are the three types
of data:
1. Time series data.
2. Spatial data
3. Spacio-temporal data.
Time Series Data
It is a collection of a set of numerical
values, collected over a period of time. The data might have been collected
either at regular intervals of time or irregular intervals of time.
Spatial Data:
If the data collected is connected
with that of a place, then it is termed as spatial data.
For example, the data may be
1. Number of runs scored by a
batsman in different test matches in a test series at different places
2. District wise rainfall in
Tamilnadu
3. Prices of silver in four
metropolitan cities
Spacio Temporal Data:
If the data collected is connected
to the time as well as place then it is known as spacio temporal data.
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:
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.
Secondary Data:
Secondary data are those data
which have been already collected and analysed by some earlier agency for its
own use; and later the same data are used by a different agency.
According to W.A.Neiswanger,
‘A primary source is a publication in which the data are published by the same
authority which gathered and analysed them. A secondary source is a
publication, reporting the data which have been gathered by other authorities
and for which others are responsible’.
Data Collection In Statistics - An Introduction