Passive data collection is the gathering of consumer data through their behavior and interaction without actively notifying or asking the consumer’s permission. In fact, most consumers don’t even realize how much data is actually being captured, nor how it’s being used or shared.

1. Assignment II
Prepared By
Navin Rai (16011, Section A)
Ferdous Ahmed (16083, Section B)

2. Passive Methods of Primary Data source
“Observation”
Passive data collection is the gathering of consumer data through their behavior
and interaction without actively notifying or asking the consumer’s permission. In
fact, most consumers don’t even realize how much data is actually being
captured, nor how it’s being used or shared.

3. Advantages
• 1.Very direct method for collecting data or information – best for the study of human
behavior.
2. Data collected is very accurate in nature and also very reliable.
3. Improves precision of the research results.
4. Problem of depending on respondents is decreased.
5. Helps in understanding the verbal response more efficiently.
6. By using good and modern gadgets – observations can be made continuously and also
for a larger duration of time period.
7. Observation is less demanding in nature, which makes it less bias in working abilities.
8. By observation, one can identify a problem by making an in depth analysis of the
problems.

4. Disadvantages
1. Problems of the past cannot be studied by means of observation.
2. Having no other option one has to depend on the documents available.
3. Observations like the controlled observations require some especial instruments or tools for
effective working, which are very much costly.
4. One cannot study opinions by this means.
5. Attitudes cannot be studied with the help of observations.
6. Sampling cannot be brought into use.
7. Observation involves a lot of time as one has to wait for an event to happen to study that
particular event.
8.The actual presence of the observer himselfVis aVis the event to occur is almost unknown,
which acts as a major disadvantage of observation.
9. Complete answer to any problem or any issue cannot be obtained by observation alone.

5. Example
•A principal watching a teacher give a lesson to her class in order
to judge her effectiveness as an educator
•A scientist looking at a chemical reaction in an experiment
•A doctor watching a patient after administering an injection
•A parent watching her children interact with other children on the playground
•An astronomer looking at the night sky and recording data regarding movement and
brightness of the objects he sees
•A zoologist watching lions in a den after prey is introduced to determine the swiftness of
the animals' response
•Air flight controllers watching their monitors for airplane movements and locations
•A child watching a fish in a tank
•A chef watching his roast in the oven as it cooks.

6. • A fisherman watching his line for tautness indicating a fish has bitten the bait
• A crabber watching his crab cages for activity indicating he has caught crabs
• A meteorologist watching the Doppler radar as a storm approaches
• A botanist recording daily data on plant growth after looking and measuring each day
• A coach watching a group of athletes to choose which will join his team
• A fan watching a baseball game
• A chart showing data collected over a period of time
• A written narrative of an employee's performance
• A doctor watching a patient's reaction to medication
• A psychologist watching a wife's reaction to her husband's confession
• A daycare provider watching the children's interaction
• A baker watching her cake in the oven to ensure it rises and is cooked appropriately
• A chef watching water come to the perfect boil before adding pasta
• A little league coach watching children play to determine strengths and weaknesses
• A producer watching actors perform a scene
• A kennel operator watching dogs play together
• An audience member watching a movie unfold on the big screen
• A person sitting at a restaurant looking at the others around and people watching
• A mechanic looking under the hood while the car is running to attempt to diagnose a problem
• A teacher watching her students work during independent work time
• An astronaut watching a chemical as they ascend to space in order to determine changes
• A boss watching construction workers build a house in order to determine their effectiveness
• A pit boss watching casino dealers and players to prevent theft or fraud

7. Some examples of tools used for scientific
observation are:
• Barometers
• Rulers
• Thermometers
• Scales
• Cameras
• Tape Recorders
• Video
• MRI machines
• X Ray machines
• Clocks
• Microscopes
• Telescopes
• Tape Measures
• Binoculars

8. References
• https://marketingtechblog.com/what-is-passive-data-collection/
• http://www.mbaofficial.com/mba-courses/research-methodology/features-
advantages-and-disadvantages-of-observation/
• http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-observation.html