Diagnosis is a critical process that involves data collection, interpretation and identification of problem area. Critically discuss the method of data collection and provide their strength and weakness in diagnosis process.

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It’s true that, diagnosis is a critical process that involves data collection, interpretation and
identification of problem area. The following are the methods of data collection as well as their
strength and weakness in diagnosis process.
Data can be defined as the quantitative or qualitative values of a variable. Data can be numbers,
images, words, figures, facts or ideas. Data in itself cannot be understood and to get information
from the data one must interpret it into meaningful information
Data Collection is the process of collecting and preparing data for the purpose of obtaining
information to keep record and make decisions. In collecting data there are two main methods
that are normally used. These methods include primary and secondary data.
Primary Data
Primary data is the method of data collection where by someone collected the data from original
sources. Under Primary data, the methods used to collect data involve experiment, surveys,
questionnaire, observations, interview, and sociometric approach.
Using Primary data as the method of data collection during the diagnosis process has its own
strength and weakness as follows;
The strength of using primary data in diagnosis process
Targeted Issues are addressed
Primary data are collected in regards of specific issues or problems at hand by using procedures
that fit the problem best. The organization can much concentrate and address issues specific to its
own situation. Primary data reveals problems for which timely remedial measures may be
instituted
Efficient Spending for Information
Primary data collections focus on issues specific to improve the chances that organizations’
funds will be spent efficiently. Primary data collection is designed to collect the information that
the organization wants to know and consultants report it in ways that benefit the organization.
For example, while information reported with secondary data may not fit the organizations’
needs, no such problem exists with primary data collection since consultants get data from the
field.
Unbiased information
Primary data is more of objectivity rather than subjectivity since it is extracted from the field.
There are no personal biases or misleading information. This justifies that it is easy to measure

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validity and reliability of the data by using primary data collection methods in the diagnosis
process. First-hand information obtained from the field is always valid and trustworthy. Primary
data collection is more authentic if the methods chosen to analyze and interpret data are valid and
reasonably suitable for the data type.
It is very much on participation for responses and reality
The use of questionnaire and interviews facilitates full participation of the respondents and it is
always easy to understand the respondents’ feelings, attitudes, experiences, opinions and
perception toward the matter, problem or particular issues. To ensure valid responses, interview
questions must be carefully designed, evaluated and tested.
Greater Control
Not only does primary data collection enable the consultant to focus on specific issues, it also
enables him/her to have a higher level of control over how the information is collected. In this
way the consultant can decide about his/her set or size of respondents (e.g., how many
responses), detect the problem areas (e.g., department, whole organization) and time frame for
completing the data collection process. The collected data can be examined and interpreted by
the consultants depending on their needs rather than relying on the interpretation made by
collectors of secondary data. Some primary data can, in fact, be used for predictions of
alternative solutions.
Weakness of using primary data in diagnosis process
Time consuming
Most of the primary data collection methods take time from preparation throughout obtaining
information. Also it requires development and execution of research plan which also takes time.
High cost
Compared to secondary data, primary data may be very expensive since there is a great deal in
preparation, designing and carrying out questionnaire, interviews, survey, observations and
experiments.
Inaccurate feedback
In case the research involves taking feedbacks from the targeted respondents thus, there is high
chance that feedback given is not correct and biased. A person may give the feedback just for
answering the question. On the other hand, the major disadvantage of primary data is that it has
design problems like how to design the surveys. The questions must be simple and
understandable. Some respondents do not give timely responses. Sometimes, the respondents
may give fake, socially acceptable and sweet answers and try to cover up the realities. In some

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primary data collection methods there is no control over the data collection. Incomplete
questionnaire always give a negative feedback.
It require large amount of resources
Leaving aside cost and time, other resources like human resources and materials are needed in
larger quantity to do surveys, conducting questionnaire, and experiments. Most of consultants
lack these important resources.
Secondary data
Secondary data is the data that has been already collected by and readily available from other
sources. Such data are cheaper and quickly obtainable than primary data. These data may be
obtained from many sources, including literature, government Records, E-journals,
magazines/newspapers, industry surveys, compilations from computerized databases and
information systems. Normally these data are generated from other organization for the purpose
that can be used as a reference in identifying problem areas such as performance, production.
Secondary data also have weakness and strength as follows;
Strength of using secondary data in diagnosis process
Time saving
It saves time that would otherwise be spent collecting data. Due to the availability of information
about consultation from different organizations, consultant may use a very short time to obtain
the data required for intervention. Therefore it may lead to better time securing.
Low cost to acquire the data
The use of secondary data allows consultants to access valuable information for little or no cost
to acquire. This information is much less expensive than carrying out primary data collection
methods although the cost can vary widely depending on the type of the document and how far
one must travel in order to gain access or obtain the data.
Easy to access data
Secondary data is relatively easy to obtain. Recently information can be available on line [e.g.
E˗Journals, Weblogs, and Websites]. Also available in books, government records, journals,
magazine and news papers. This offers convenience and general standardize usage methods for
all sources of secondary data.
May answer the targeted problems or issues
The use of secondary data collection method is often used to faster the access to relevant
information. When focusing on secondary data, the consultants may realize that the exact
information they were looking to uncover is already available through secondary sources. This
would effectively eliminate the need and expense to carry out the primary data collection.

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Provide bases for comparison
Secondary data collection provides a wide range to consultants to obtain and compare some new
ideas which other organizations used to solve the likely problems and prove to be effective and
efficient for the targeted issues. Although, documents vary tremendously in quality, many
documents, such as journals, articles, books, papers, written by professional consultants may be
more valuable than, for example poor responses from the questionnaire or interviews.
Ensures no duplication
Secondary data can also ensure that there is no duplication of an investigation already made. It
also helps in the formulation of specific questions, assumptions, framework, methods, sampling
techniques, implications, and conclusions.
Weaknesses of using secondary data in diagnosis process
Incomplete information
In many cases consultants find information that appears to be valuable and promising. But to
obtain the full vision of valuable study of information is difficult. This is due to confidentiality
and expensive charge in literature.
Data may be outdated or inaccuracy
Although one of the advantages of secondary data is that comparison which may be made
between the past information and the presence events, but due to drastic changes over time to
time in environment and technology, secondary data may have little or no relevance to the
current situation and using such outdated data may provide misleading information unless
corrections are made.
More subjective and bias
Sometimes when using secondary data a consultant can obtain information which are not
realistic to the current situation where by such data may lack the quality of objectivity. Example
personal documents such as articles, autobiographies, journals are often written by famous
people or people who have a lot of experience and professionalism such as having been a witness
to a specific event. While often providing a unique and valuable secondary data, these documents
usually are written for the purpose of making money and normally exaggerated even fabricated
to make good stories. They also tend to include those events that make the issue or problem look
easier and exclude those events that are very difficult and tough to approach.
Not specific to the consultants’ needs and can lack quality
In many cases most secondary data are not presented in a form that meets the consultant needs as
they lack control over the framing and wording of the data and normally the questions important

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to the study or problems are not included in the data. Therefore secondary data just provide
information which is at least similar to the problem/issue. This is because the data were
originally collected for a different purpose and therefore may not be optimal for the targeted
problems or issues of the organization. In the case of quality, the information may be
questionable based on its validity and reliability [how well can the data meet the quality
requirement of the current situation].
Generally, both primary and secondary data are useful in the process of diagnosis, although
secondary data is less expensive than primary data; it's not as accurate, or as useful, as specific as
primary data. The reliability of secondary data is not always assured. The best thing about using
primary data collection methods is the consultant will be presented with original and unbiased
data. Unlike the secondary data collection methods, the consultant will directly interact with the
source of information and get the data that is original and not analyzed to suit specific problems
or issues.

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REFERENCES
Wendell L French; Cecil Bell Organization Development Behavioral Science Interventions for
Improvement, Englewood Cliffs, N.J, Prentice-Hall.
Bradford, D.L & Burke, W.W. eds, [2005]. Organization Development, San Francisco: Pfeiffer.
Cummings, Thomas G,; Worley, Christopher G, Organization Development & Change,
Thomson South Western.
Http: II: www.slideshare.net/hezc/3210/primary- secondary data.