Primary Sources of data collection

2. The Department of Education and Training defines research as follows:
Research is defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of
existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts,
methodologies and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis
of previous research to the extent that it leads to new and creative outcomes.
This definition of research encompasses pure and strategic basic research,
applied research and experimental development. Applied research is original
investigation undertaken to acquire new knowledge but directed towards a
specific, practical aim or objective (including a client-driven purpose).
THE STEPS OF RESEACH ARE AS FOLLOWS:-

3. DEFINE
RESEARCH
PROBLEM
REVIEW OF
LITERATURE
FORMULATE
HYPOTHESIS
PREPARING
THE RESEARCH
DESIGN
DATA
COLLECTION
AND ANALYSIS
INTERPRETATI
ON AND
REPORT
WRITING
STEPS OF
RESEARCH

4. Data collection is a component of research. It is used in all fields
of study including physical and social science, humanities and
business. Data collection is of gathering and measuring
information on a targeted variable in established system that
enables to answer relevant questions and provide the required
outcomes. There may be different method of collecting data but
the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains
the same. The goal for all data collection is to ensure quality
evidence that allow analysis to lead to the formulation of
convincing and credible answer to the question that have been
posed.

5. Data are nothing but the information. There are two sources of information or data they are -
Primary and Secondary data. The data are name after the source. Primary data refers to the data
collected for the first time, whereas secondary data refers to the data that have already been
collected and used earlier by somebody or some agency. For example, the statistics collected by
the Government of India relating to the population is primary data for the Government of India
since it has been collected for the first time. Later when the same data are used by a researcher
for his study of a particular problem, then the same data become the secondary data for the
researcher.
The sources of data collection are as follows:-
Primary Data Collection
Secondary Data Collection

6. PRIMARY SOURCES OF DATA
QUANTITATIVE
SOURCES
DEPTH
INTERVIEW
PROJECTIVE
TECHNIQUE
SURVEYOBSERVATIONFOCUS
GROUP
QUALITATIVE
SOURCES
EXPERIMENT

7. PRIMARY SOURCES OF DATA
COLLECTION
 Primary data will be the data that you gather particularly with
the end goal of your research venture. Leverage of Primary
data is that it is particularly customized to your analysis needs.
A drawback is that it is costly to get hold of. Primary data is
otherwise called raw information; the information gathered
from the first source in a controlled or an uncontrolled
situations.There are two sources of data collection. First is
quantitative source which include:-
 Direct Personal Investigation
 Indirect Oral Investigation
 Telephonic Interview
 Mailed Questionnaire

8.  Information Through Correspondents
The second is qualitative sources. They include:-
• Focus Group
• Depth Interview
• Projective Technique.

9. Under this method, the Investigator obtains the first-hand information
from the respondents themselves. He personally visits the respondents
to collect information (data). The information is obtained by a personal
interview called investigation that requires much of attention by the
investigator. This method is suitable when the investigation is
confidential and complex and when the area of investigation is small.
The data are collected by skilled enumerators. Moreover, the data
collected by using this method is more accurate than the data collected
by using other methods. Doubts of the collected data can be clarified
using this method. However, this method is more time consuming.

10. In Indirect Oral Investigation, data is collected through indirect
sources. Persons who are likely to have information about the
problems, are interrogated and on the basis of their answers, factual
data have to be compiled. Most of the commissions of enquiry
appointed by government collect primary data by this method. The
accuracy of the method depends largely upon the type of persons
interviewed and hence these persons have to be selected very carefully.

11. The investigator appoints local agents or correspondents in
different places to collect information under this method. These
correspondents collect and transmit the information to the
central office where data are processed. This method is generally
adopted by newspaper agencies. Correspondents who are
posted at different places supply information relating to such
events as accidents, riots, strikes, etc., to the head office. The
correspondents are generally paid staff or sometimes they may
be honorary correspondents also. This method is also adopted
generally by the government departments in such cases where
regular information is to be collected from a wide area.

12. Nowadays, a telephone survey can be easily conducted
due to wide spread telephone facilities provided by telephone
department and private companies. Telephone interviews are
often conducted by employers in the initial interview round of
the hiring process, this type of interview allows an employer to
screen candidates on the candidate's experience, qualifications,
and salary expectations pertaining to the position and the
company. The telephone interview saves the employers' time
and eliminates candidates that are unlikely to meet the
company’s expectations. Employers tend to perform telephone
interviews as a structured interview.

13. Questionnaires can be mailed out to a sample of the population,
enabling the researcher to connect with a wide range of people.
The questionnaire is typically sent in a packet that contains a
cover sheet, introducing the research being conducting, and a
pre-paid return envelope for the responses. While the response
rate is typically lower than other forms of questionnaires, this
can be improved with reminders and incentives. The advantage
of this kind of research is that the sample is not limited to
access to technology such as phones or Internet and
participants are able to think about their responses.

14. A focus group is best defined as a small group of carefully
selected participants who contribute to open discussions for
research. The hosting organization carefully selects participants
for the study to represent the larger population they’re
attempting to target.
The group might look at new products, feature updates, or other
topics of interest to generalize the entire population’s reaction.
Focus group research includes a moderator. Their job is to
ensure legitimate results and reduce bias in the discussions.

15. Depth or in-depth interview is a qualitative research technique
which is used to conduct intensive individual interviews where
numbers of respondents are less and research is focused on a
specific product, technique, situation or objective. Companies
employ market research firms to employ In-depth interviews to
understand consumer behavior for a new product or to expand
sales of existing products. Advantages of In-depth interviews
• Comparatively much more detailed information than other
data collection methods like surveys and focused group
discussions.
• Provide much more relaxed information to collect
information- people feel more comfortable in having a personal
conversations rather than filling surveys.

16. Qualitative market research is often aimed at increasing understanding of
consumers’ thoughts and feelings toward brands, products, concepts,
advertising, social issues and other important topics. Projective techniques are
indirect methods used in qualitative research. These techniques allow
researchers to tap into consumers’ deep motivations, beliefs, attitudes and
values. This is important because psychology has told us for a long time that
much of what drives behaviour can be emotional and irrational in nature. To
some extent, these emotional drivers of behaviour lie below conscious
awareness.
Consumers tend to be aware of their conscious motivations and decision-
making processes. Therefore, when a researcher directly asks a consumer why
they like a product, favour a brand, or prefer a competitor, responses tended to
be rational and purposeful. However, we know that our connections to brands
and our preferences for some products over others stem from motivations and
values in which consumers are not consciously aware.
Projective techniques are useful because people tend to have limited
understanding of their own behaviour; likewise, people often have difficulty
articulating their motivations and desires.

17. CONCLUSION
The main purpose of research is to inform action, to prove a
theory, and contribute to developing knowledge in a field
or study. This article has highlighted the significance of
research with the following points:
 A Tool for Building Knowledge and for Facilitating
Learning
 Means to Understand Various Issues and Increase Public
Awareness
 An Aid to Business Success

18. THANK YOU