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Review Arcle
Journal of Integrated Community Health (ISSN: 2319-9113)
Copyright (c) 2021: Author(s). Published by Advanced Research Publicaons
Journal of Integrated Community Health
Volume 10, Issue 1 - 2021, Pg. No. 6-10
Peer Reviewed & Open Access Journal
Corresponding Author:
Syeda Ayeman Mazhar, Department of Tahauzi
wa Samaji Tib (PSM), Faculty of Unani Medicine,
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uar Pradesh,
India.
E-mail Id:
syedaayeman@gmail.com
Orcid Id:
hps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2589-2116
How to cite this arcle:
Mazhar SA, Anjum R, Anwar AI, Khan AA.
Methods of Data Collecon: A Fundamental Tool
of Research. J Integ Comm Health. 2021;10(1):6-
10.
Date of Submission: 2021-01-16
Date of Acceptance: 2021-03-12
INFO ABSTRACT
For conducng research, it is a must to collect data. Data is basically the
informaon that is required for invesgang a research problem aer
proper designing. The importance of data collecon lies in the fact that
without gathering the parcular informaon the research could not be
carried out. The data may be primary or secondary. Usually, the methods
of primary data collecon in behavioural sciences include observaon
methods, interviews, quesonnaires, and through database. The sources
of secondary data include the previously published books, magazines,
journals, etc. and unpublished autobiographies and biographies, etc.
Thus, data collecon is mandatory to accomplish the research process
and therefore, it is the fundamental tool of research. This paper reviews,
in detail, the various methods and dierent ways of gathering the
informaon for undertaking research.
Keywords:
Research Problem, Behavioural Sciences, Research
Process, Quesonnaire, Interview, Database, Observaon, Research
Design/ Plan
Methods of Data Collection: A Fundamental
Tool of Research
Syeda Ayeman Mazhar1, Rubi Anjum2, Ammar Ibne Anwar3, Abdul Aziz Khan4
1PG Scholar, 2Professor & Chairperson, 3,4Assistant Professors (Stage II), Department of Tahauzi wa Samaji Tib (PSM), Faculty
of Unani Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uar Pradesh, India.
DOI: hps://doi.org/10.24321/2319.9113.202101
Introduction
The responsibility of data collecon starts aer dening the
research problem and outlining the research design/ plan.
There are two major strategies for collecng informaon
about circumstances, parcular problems or for any other
phenomena. Occasionally, the facts required are previously
accessible and need only be extracted. The researcher
would have to decide which type of data they would be
using for their study and accordingly they will have to select
one or the other method of data collecon.1 By denion,
data collecon is dened as the process of gathering,
evaluating and analysing precise understandings for
research using typical authencated methods. Assessment
of the hypothesis by a researcher can be done on the basis
of collected data. In almost all cases, data collecon is the
most signicant step for research, regardless of the eld
of research. The method of data collecon varies as per
the dierent elds of study, depending on the essenal
informaon. The most vital objecve of data collecon is
to safeguard that informaon-rich and unswerving data
that is collected for stascal analysis and further helps
in making data-driven decisions for research.2
Definition of Data
Data is a plural form of datum meaning “a piece of
informaon”. Informaon may be collected during a study,
or as a result of an experiment, or during an observaon,
or through census or survey. The informaon may also be
gathered by invesgators on their own. Data may be of
two types:1,3
Primary Data: Primary data include the data that are
collected for the rst me, and are original and fresh.
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Mazhar SA et al.
J. Integ. Comm. Health 2021; 10(1)
ISSN: 2319-9113
DOI: hps://doi.org/10.24321/2319.9113.202101
Secondary Data: Secondary data include the data which
have previously been collected by someone else and have
already undergone the stascal process.
Methods of Collection of Primary Data1,3-5
Primary data is collected while undertaking experiments
in experimental research, but, primary data in the case of
descripve type research and surveys (including sample
surveys or census surveys), are obtained either by means of
observaon or via direct communicaon with respondents
in one form or another.
Types of Primary Data Collection:1,3-5
• Observaon method
• Interview method
• Through quesonnaire
• Through schedule
•
Other methods include warranty cards, pantry audits,
distributary audits, consumer panels, using mechanical
devices, through projecve technique, depth interviews
and content analysis
Observation Method1,3-5
This is the most frequently used pracce, parcularly in
studies relang to behavioural sciences.
Every one of us, more or less observe things around us, but
this is not considered scienc observaon. Observaon is
said to be a scienc tool and a means of data collecon
for the researcher, when it serves a formulated research
purpose, is systemacally planned and recorded and is
subjected to checks and controls on validity and reliability.
Under the observaon method, the informaon is sorted
by invesgators’ direct observaon without asking from the
respondent. This method is parcularly suitable in studies
that deal with subjects who aren’t capable of giving verbal
reports of their feelings for any reason.
Observation
Data collecon by means of observaon does not require
personal contact. A good example of observaonal data
gathering is counng the number of automobiles crossing
an intersecon every hour.
Types of Observation Methods
Structured Observaon: It involves a careful denion of
the units to be observed, along with the style of recording
the obtained informaon, selecon of pernent data of
observaon, and the standardised condions of observaon.
Unstructured Observaon: This is performed without
considering any structured characteriscs in advance.
Controlled Observaon: It involves observaon as per the
pre-arranged strategies including experimental processes.
Uncontrolled Observation: In this, the process of
observaon takes place in natural sengs.
Parcipant Observaon: It is the process in which the
observer shares the experiences, being a member of the
group.
Non-parcipant Observaon: It is the process in which
the observer is a detached parcipant.
Disguised Observaon: It refers to the process in which
the observaons are made without people knowing that
they are being observed.
Interview Method1,3-5
For eecve execuon of the interview method, the
interviewers have to be sensibly nominated, skilled, and
updated. They have to be authenc, genuine, diligent,
unbiased and ought to retain the praccal competency and
essenal applied understanding. In actual fact, interviewing
is a skill administered by denite scienc ethics. It involves
the presentaon of oral-verbal smuli and replies in terms
of oral-verbal responses.
• Personal Interview
• Telephone Interview
Interview
This generally takes place amongst two individuals, one is
called the interviewer and another is the interviewee or
respondent. This is typically preferred if it is convenient to
talk directly to the respondents. For example, if a researcher
desired to conclude whether individuals stayed happy with
the way they were treated by sales sta hospitality.
Personal Interview Method
This method entails a person as an interviewer asking
quesons mostly in a face to face interacon with other
people. At mes, the interviewee might also probe certain
interrogaons and interviewer’s responses, but generally,
the interviewer starts the interview and assembles the
facts. This method is quite appropriate for thorough
invesgaons.
Structured Interview: The informaon collected by this
method is usually processed in a structured way, such
interviews involve the use of a set of predetermined
quesons and highly standardised techniques of recording.
In this method, the interviewer follows a rigid procedure.
Unstructured Interview: It doesn’t follow a system of
predetermined quesons and standardised techniques of
recording informaon.
Focused Interview: It is intended to put emphasis and
consideration on the respondent’s certain attained
capabilies and their eects. In this method, the interviewer
has the freedom to decide the manner and sequence in
which the quesons would be asked and has also the
freedom to explore reasons and moves. The main task of
the interviewer in case of a focussed interview is to conne
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Mazhar SA et al.
J. Integ. Comm. Health 2021; 10(1)
ISSN: 2319-9113
DOI: hps://doi.org/10.24321/2319.9113.202101
the respondent to a discussion of issues with which he
seeks conversance. Such interviews are generally used in
the development of a hypothesis and constute a major
type of unstructured interview.
Telephone Interview Method
In this method, the informaon is collected by contacng
respondents on a telephone. It is not a very widely used
method but plays an important role in industrial surveys.
Collection of Data through Questionnaires1,3-5
This type of data collecon procedure is very popular
in the case of big surveys. This method is adopted by
research workers, private personalies, private and public
organisaons and even by governments. In this method, a
quesonnaire is conducted to the individuals concerned
with an appeal to respond to the quesons and give back
the quesonnaire. A quesonnaire consists of a number of
quesons printed or typed in a denite order on a form or
set of forms. The quesonnaire is mailed to respondents
who are expected to go through the quesons, comprehend
them, and provide their response to the quesons in the
space alloed for that purpose in the quesonnaire itself.
The parcipants are required to provide the answers to
the quesons by themselves.
Questionnaire
A quesonnaire is a predetermined set of quesons given
to a number of respondents. This instrument is good for
geng informaon from many people. Quesonnaires
are also appropriate for geng informaon from people
that are spread over a wide area and that are not easy to
contact face-to-face. A quesonnaire should have a short
explanaon of what your research is about. As with all
data collecon methods, quesonnaires should always
adhere to ethical and moral codes of conduct. An example
of a quesonnaire in use is the naonal populaon census
for India, which takes place every ten years (the last one
was in 2011).
Features of a Good Questionnaire1,3,4
• Quesons should be smaller and to the point
• Quesons should be in sequence
•
Quesons should proceed in a logical sequence moving
from easy to more dicult quesons. Personal and
inmate quesons should be le to the end
• Technical terms should not be used in quesonnaires
•
Quesons may be dichotomous, mulple-choice or
open-ended
•
Quesons that can aect the answer of the respondents
should be avoided
• Quesons must include all aspects of the problem
Collection of Data through Schedule1,3
There is a slight dierence between the methods of data
collecon through schedule and through quesonnaire.
Schedules are the proforma that contain a set of quesons.
They are lled in by people who are specically selected
for this purpose. They carry schedules to the respondents,
administer the quesons from the proforma in a sequence
wise manner and note down their responses in the space
provided for the same in the proforma.
Other Methods of Data Collection1,3
• Warranty Cards: They are also called feedback cards.
They are usually a postal size card with some quesons
along with a request to the consumers to ll and return
them
•
Distributor or Store Audit: This can be performed
by distributers or manufacturers through their sales
representaves commonly and seasonal purchasing
paern
•
Pantry Audit: It is applied to esmate consumpon of
basket goods at the consumer level
• Consumer Panel: It is an extension of pantry audit. It
is approached on a regular basis
•
Use of Mechanical Devices: Eye camera, pupilometric
camera, psychogalvanometer, moon picture camera
Methods of Collection of Secondary Data1,3
Sources of Published Data
•
Various publications of central, state, or local
government
• Publicaon of foreign government and internaonal
sociees
•
Business industries, banks, stock exchanges, and reports
• Trade journals
• Books, magazines, and newspapers
•
Reports prepared by research scholars, universies,
economists
• Public record, stascal and historical document
Sources of Unpublished Data
•
Autobiographies and biographies that are not published
• Diaries, manuscripts accepted for publicaon but sll
“in-press”
• Data from an unpublished study, letters, manuscripts
in preparation, memos, other communications such
as e-mails, and raw data
•
Data available with scholars and research workers,
trade rms, labour agencies, and other public or private
personnel, and sectors
Sources of Secondary Data Collection1,3,4
Databases
Somemes we can use informaon that is already stored
in a database, so that we don’t actually have to nd the
data. Databases are simply organised lists of data - the list
9
Mazhar SA et al.
J. Integ. Comm. Health 2021; 10(1)
ISSN: 2319-9113
DOI: hps://doi.org/10.24321/2319.9113.202101
of learners at a school is a kind of database. Databases
can be computerised, books or paper ling systems. A big
advantage of these is that the data is already organised
and is easy to access.
The aim of the research inuences the way data will be
collected. Four methods of collecng data are.
Conclusion
The process of data collecon is very essenal in the eld
of research. It is a basic tool of good research. If the data
collected is unbiased, it will be very useful. The medical,
social, polical and economic scenarios can be very easily
seen through this process. Basically, there are two types of
data, primary and secondary. The most common methods
of primary data collecon in behavioural sciences are
the observaon methods, interviews, quesonnaires,
and database. The sources of secondary data include the
previously published books, magazines, journals, etc.,
and unpublished autobiographies and biographies, etc.
The method of data collecon is chosen as per the aim of
the research and its suitability for that parcular type of
research that is to be conducted.
Acknowledgement
The author is thankful to the Chairperson for providing us
the Library facilies in the Dept. of Tahauzi wa Samaji Tib
of Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, AMU, Aligarh. The author
also acknowledges the Supervisor and Co-supervisors for
their generous support and guidance and is also grateful
to the Research Methodology teacher for the valuable
inputs and suggesons in the compilaon of this arcle.
Source of Funding: None
Conflicts of Interest: None
References
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Figure 1.Methods of Data Collection
Selection of the Method of Data Collection6-8
The steps for choosing the technique of parcular data
collecon in a parcular type of study:
• Step 1: Consider the me required
• Step 2: Calculate the number of interviews required
• Step 3: Time to carry out the interviews
• Step 4: Determine the available me for study
The method of collecting data must be
suitable for the type of research we are doing.
Let’s look at examples to see why.
Worked Examples: Deciding on the Best Way
to Collect Data9
Which method would be appropriate for collecng data
for each of the cases below?
Table 1
To study the
knowledge and
percepons of
tuberculosis (TB)
among many
learners at a
school
Anonymous quesonnaires would
be useful so that learners don’t
have to worry about answering
incorrectly. Interviews by a skilled
interviewer could be useful so
that the interviewer could nd
out more about what the learners
know and believe about TB.
Whether bank
clients feel that
they are treated
professionally or
not by the bank
sta?
A quesonnaire that clients ll
in while vising a bank would be
a convenient way to collect this
informaon.
The symptoms of
hospital paents
with cancer.
Observaon (in the form of a
medical examinaon) would be
the best method.
The average age
of all learners in
Grade 10.
This informaon could be most
easily obtained from a database,
e.g. from the school’s register of
learners, which should have all the
learners’ dates of birth.
The number of
pens each learner
in a class has?
Quesonnaire OR Observaon
Weight of all
learners in a
class?
Quesonnaire OR Database (if this
info is recorded, e.g. for Physical
Educaon)
Customers’
opinion on the
new design of a
shop?
Interview
10
Mazhar SA et al.
J. Integ. Comm. Health 2021; 10(1)
ISSN: 2319-9113
DOI: hps://doi.org/10.24321/2319.9113.202101
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