DATA COLLECTION METHODS

SOURCES OF DATA
Primary data source.

Secondary data source.
Primary Data Source
Focus groups

Panels

Unobtrusive
sources

Secondary Data Source
BOOKS
Internet
Websites
Case studies
Published
information
Media

FOCUS GROUPS
The discussion is on the particular:
Topic
Concept
Product
Members are chosen on their expertise basis.
Focus groups are relatively inexpensive.
Aim is to obtain:
_Impressions
_Interpretations
_Responses

ROLE OF MODERATOR
Plays a vital role in steering the discussion.
Keep the members on track.
Introduces the topic .
Listen to verbal statements .
Notice the nonverbal cues.
Ensures that no member dominates
the group.

EXPLORATORY STUDIES GENERLIZED INFORMATION
CONDUCTING SAMPLE SURVEYS
.
VIDEOCONFERENCING:
Panel
It is another source of primary information for research purpose.
Market research panels are comprised of pr recruited groups of
people meeting certain demographic criterion
They are commonly used for obtaining business information about
product sales
Panel research is collecting the same data repeatedly from sample
of people from the target groups
Panels can be chosen from a target audience segment, current
customers, potential customers, or any other particular group.




The electrical equipment has been used for longtime in panel
research for data collection, but the Internet has recently
made the revolution in research possibility
Panels enable the possibility of combining accurate
measurements of such parameters as expenditure and
individual behavior over time.
The Analysis of Data provide Guidance in area such as pricing
,Advertizing, effectiveness and sales projections
The best-known examples of panel research
are the continuous consumer purchasing panels
like

Covering grocery
Food
Drinks
Toiletries etc.

The Basic idea of Panel Research
A panel as a continuing group that responds to
questioning from time to time.

Duration of Panel
The duration of panel life span can last as

little as a week
some cases even a year or More


Rewards for there participation can be:
Cash
Gift

Types of panels
Static panel(i:e The same members serve on the
panel over extended periods of time)
Dynamic panel(i:e The panel member change from
Time to Time as a various phases of the study are
in progress
UNOBTRUSTIVE MEASURES
An unobtrusive measure is a method of making
observations without the knowledge of those being
observed. Unobtrusive measures are designed to minimize
a major problem in social research, which is how a
subjects awareness of the research project affects
behavior and distorts research results.
Unobtrusive measurement presumably reduces the biases that
result from the intrusion of the researcher or measurement
instrument. However, unobtrusive measures reduce the
degree the researcher has control over the type of data
collected. For some constructs there may simply not be any
available unobtrusive measures.
UNOBSTRUCTIVEDATACOLLECTION
Most people decide they need information for a project, they
immediately think in terms of surveys and interview
projects. Few consider the wealth of information already
collected by the organization. These are "unobtrusive
measures" because people are not asked to stop what they
are doing and fill out forms or speak to consultants.
TYPES:-

INDIRECT MEASURES

CONTENT ANALYSIS

SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF
DATA
INDIRECT MEASURES
An indirect measure is an unobtrusive measure that
occurs naturally in a research context. The researcher
is able to collect the data without introducing any
formal measurement procedure.
CONTENT ANALYSIS
Content analysis is the analysis of text documents.
The analysis can be quantitative, qualitative or
both. Typically, the major purpose of content
analysis is to identify patterns in text. Content
analysis is an extremely broad area of research
SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF DATA
Secondary analysis, like content analysis, makes use
of already existing sources of data. However,
secondary analysis typically refers to the re-
analysis of quantitative data rather than text.
The Delphi Technique
The name : Delphi derives from the oracle of
Delphi.
The Delphi method is a systematic. interactive
forecasting method which relies on a panel of
experts
An organized method for collecting views and
information pertaining to specific area
.CONTI
After each round a facilitator provides an anonymous
summary of the experts.
Thus experts are encouraged to revise their earlier
answers in light of the replies of other members of the
panels.
How to use it
Define the problem
Give everyone the problem
Collate the responses
Give the everyone the collection
Repeat as necessary

Secondary Data Source
A secondary source provides second hand
information that has been digested, analyzed
reworded or interpreted.
Secondary sources are often written well after the
events they report on ,and can put past information
into his historical context
Examples of secondary data
sources
Books with endnotes and footnotes.
Biographies
A journal/magazine article which interprets or
reviews previous findings.
Conference proceedings
Literary criticism
Book reviews