Collecting your own data-Primary research | Data Collection Services – Stastwork

1. COLLECTING YOUR OWN DATAON PRIMARYRESEARCH An Academic presentationby Dr. Nancy Agens, Head, Technical Operations, Statswork Group www.statswork.com Email:info@statswork.com

2. TODAY'SDISCUSSION Outline ofTopics Introduction PrimaryData Examples of Primary Data Collection Primary Data Collection Methods Advantages of Primary Data StatisticalAnalysis Conclusion

3. Introduction In every research studies, the scientist wants to identify the truth or they wish to develop meaningful insights into theproblem. In order to make any valid conclusion about the research problem or hypothesis, we need valid evidence. Moreover, the evidence can be represented by collecting data (numeric or non-numeric innature). In any statistical analysis, data collection is the fundamental step and there are two forms of data collection; Primaryand Secondarymethodof datacollection. I will describe you the meaning of primary data, examples of primary data collection and different ways of collecting thesame.

4. PrimaryData The researcher collected the Primary data through surveys, experiment, interview, etc, and it is considered to be the best research methodology as the data are collected from the originalsource. Before collecting the primary data, the main task of the researcher is to identify the sample population and the mode of datacollection.

5. Examples of Primary DataCollection Suppose if you are interested in identifying the sales of a product in the market and make a profitable business plan, then you may conduct a sample survey about the product to selected customers and identify the pattern of sales and fix a target for futureyears. In many psychological experiments, they often collect primary data through lab experiments, questionnaire, etc, to understand the relationship between the variables understudy.

6. Primary Data CollectionMethods Interview: There are two groups: one is the researcher asking questions to the respondents or the interviewer and the other group is the people answering to the questions orinterviewee. An interview can be done either telephonic conversation or direct (face-to-face)interview. The benefits of the interview method are that the information is clear and deep, and missing data can be easily identified and we can control the size of thesample. The limitations of this method are it involves longer time to complete, manual mistakeswhile recording or coding the data and cost incurred ishigh. Contd..

7. Questionnaires andSurveys: In this case, the researcher frame a set of questions to be asked to the respondents and collect the data by circulatingthem. Mostly, a pilot study should be conducted when we make use of this data collection method. These data can be collected either offline mode (direct survey like a census) or on-linemode. The benefits of this data collection are the respondent gets enough time to answer the questions, and the cost of conducting this method is comparativelylow. The limitation of this is once the question is framed, we cannot alter in the middle and it requires moretime. Contd..

8. Observation: This type of data collectionis often used in behaviouralscience. The researcher uses a tool to collect thedata. For example, in a teaching requirement process, the person is asked to present a demo to evaluate the capability of theteacher. The benefits of this method are that it is not related to the past or future outcome and is objective innature. The limitation is limited information and selected targetsamples. Contd..

9. Experiments: This type of data collection is often carried out in the medicalfield. Suppose a researcher wants to identify the performance of a new drug and he/she conduct an experiment by taking a samplesubject. Here the subjects are predetermined because only the patients with certain disease are tested by giving the appropriatedrug. The benefits of this method are there is no non-response in the data and it is also objective in nature. The limitation is that human error is possible andexpensive.

10. Advantages of PrimaryData The main advantages of collecting primary data over the secondary data isthat It provides freedom to collect data according to your researchobjective. The recorded data is more accurate than secondarydata. You don’t need to share the data to others unless if you wishto. You can have proper control in the samplesize. The information is up todate.

11. StatisticalAnalysis Once the data is collected then proceed the next phase as statisticalanalysis. The statistical analysisis used to describe the data structure, classify the data, correlate or identify the relationship, validating the data, predicting the future outcomes in thestudy. Data analysis serviceoffers the serveral tests that available in the literature for analysing primarydata. For example, if the sample size is small, then one may use the t-distribution test and if the sample is large enough then one may use z-test,etc. In addition, there are few situations that the data may be non-numeric in nature, then one can use the classification and clustering techniquefor analysing the primarydata.

12. Conclusion Primary research involves the proper collection of data and appropriate researchobjective. The first step of any primary research is to identify the data type and choose the appropriate data collection method and proper statistical tool to make reliableresults. The primary data collection method is often accurate and gives real timeconclusions. Primary research can be either qualitative or quantitative or a combination of both types in nature. On the basis of the data type you can execute either qualitative orquantitative analysisto make conclusions.

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