DATA COLLECTION

By
ARIF MAJEED
Faculty Member

Pakistan Academy for Rural

Development, Peshawar

Library Research: Concerned with collection of secondary data

Field Work: Collection of primary data

Some Useful Tips for Researchers: Data Collection from selected respondents,

Protection of Data, Primary and Secondary: Ethical and Moral Obligation of a Researcher
Interviewer & Researchers :1. Should go to the field properly dressed
2. Should demonstrate befitting behaviour
3. Should not discuss issues like religious, regional and
political

The Field Work /Data Collection:Data collection tools/instruments

Pre-requisite for data collection

Three Methods of Data Collection: Observation Method

Interviewing Method
Questionnaire Method

Observation Method:

What to be observed
When and where to observe
This method should be supported by other methods like
survey, interviewing,

Interview Method:

Face to face interview

Most effective method
Accurate and relevant data
Data can also be collected from illiterate respondents.

Advantages/Importance of Interview Method:1. It aims to draw out relevant information from the minds of
respondents which may otherwise not be possible,
because the schedule is in the hands of the interviewer;
2. It is a multi-purpose method of data gathering through
the process of asking, observing, posing probing
question, and recording the information.
3. It enhances the knowledge of the researcher and results
in enlarging his mental horizon.
contd..

4.
5.

It is better suited for complex subjects and for

population of low literacy rate;
It usually yields higher response rate and provides the
possibility of repeating a point;

Disadvantages:

It is an expensive method of data collection, because

the researchers have to visit the respondents several
times, which demand money, time and energies;
It is time-consuming, particularly when the scope of the
study is vast;
Mostly, it is a source of inconvenience and discomfort
both for the interviewer and the respondents; and
Lack of competent and experienced interviewers badly
tells upon the validity and comprehensiveness of true
data.

Questionnaire Method:

The respondent himself/herself, fill in the

form/questionnaire
Questionnaires are mailed or personally delivered.
Along with self explanatory covering note.
Self administered schedule.

Advantages of Questionnaire Method:1. It is filled in by the respondent himself, therefore, it is

essential that he should be literature;
2. It cannot be administered to illiterate masses;
3. The replies sometime sent by the respondents are not
definite; and
4. Mostly, they do not care to return the filled-in
questionnaire at all, which badly affects the results of
the research study.

Disadvantages:1. It is less expensive;

2. It can be administered to a large number of individuals
within the country and abroad simultaneously;
3. It is free of interview bias, and anonymity is better
preserved through it; and
4. The respondent is under lesser pressure compared to
interview in terms of need for immediate response as in
the case of an interview, and can take his own time to
fill-in and mail back the questionnaire.

Conclusion:It is not desirable nor economical to use only one

method or only one instrument of Data Collection, rather
a mix strategy would be adopted, keeping in view the
objectives, scope, economy, time and facilities available
to the researcher.