Unit-2: Data Collection and analysis - I:

Execution of the research - Observation and Collection

of data - Methods of data collection – Modeling,
Mathematical Models for research, Sampling Methods-
Data Processing and Analysis strategies. Data Analysis
with Statistical Packages – Hypothesis-testing,
Generalization-and-Interpretation.
8
hours

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 1
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 The Process of Research

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 2
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Define and
Formulate
research problem Review the
1 Literature
Interpret 7
and report
Review
Review previous
concepts and research
2
theories Analyze data
finding 6

Collection
data 5
Formulate
3
hypotheses

4 Design research

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 3
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Data collection and methods
• This is the 4th ( or 5th) phase of research process.
• This step is also called ‘generation of results’
• This task begins after research design plan to solve the
problem of your research investigation is duly chalked out
and executed.
• The data to be collected---
1.Primary data: are collected afresh for the first time by
the researcher ….happens to be the original in character
2.Secondary data….these are the data which have been
already collected by someone else and used
• A researcher may have to use one or both the types of
data for the investigation

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 4
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Collection of Primary data
• If the research design suggests an experiment in your
research process cycle, the researcher has to collect
‘primary data’ through experimentation
• For descriptive type research …collect primary data
either through observation or through direct
communication with respondents in one form or
another or through personal interviews
• There are several methods of collecting primary data
particularly in survey and descriptive researches

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 5
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
• Important ones are:
1. Observation method
2. Interview method
3. Through questionnaires
4. Through schedules
5. Through other methods:
i) Warranty cards
ii) Distributor audits
iii) Pantry audits
iv) Consumer panels
v) Using mechanical devices
vi) Projective techniques
vii) Depth interviews
viii) Content analysis

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 6
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Observation Method
• This is the mostly used method specially in studies
relating to behavioral sciences
• We all observe things…but this sort of observation is
not scientific observation
• Observation becomes a scientific tool and the
method of data collection for the researcher when it
--- serves a formulated research purpose
---- is systematically planned and recorded
---- is subjected to checks and controls on validity

and reliability
Advanced Research
28/08/2016 7
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
• Under this method, the information is sought by
way of investigator’s own direct observation
without asking the respondent
• For example, in a study relating to the consumer
behavior, the investigator instead of asking the
brand of a consumer item ( say a packet of tea)
used by the respondent, he himself may take a
decision
• The main advantage of this method is that
subjective ‘bias’ is eliminated, if the observation is
done accurately by the investigator. ( Subjective vs
objective)

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 8
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
• Secondly, the information obtained under this
method relates to what currently is happening
• It is not complicated by either the past behavior or
future intentions or attitudes
• Thirdly, this method is independent of respondent’s
willingness to respond
• This method is particularly suitable in studies which
deal with subjects in which you don’t get the
expected co-operation from the respondents

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 9
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Limitations of Observation method
• It is an expensive method
• The information provided by this method is very
limited
• It becomes difficult to collect data as the expected
help may not arrive from the respondent

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 10
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
• While using this method , the researcher should keep
in mind things like:
-- What should be observed?
--- How the observations should be recorded?
• ‘Structured observation’---The observation method is
centered around the style of recording the
observation, standardized conditions of observation
and the selection of data to be observed
• If the above points are not considered while making
an observation, then it becomes ‘unstructured
observation’

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 11
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Interview method
• The interview method of collecting data involves
presentation of oral-verbal stimuli and reply in
terms of oral-verbal responses
• There are basically 2 types of interview method of
data collection,
i) Personal interview
ii) Telephone interview

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 12
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Collection of data through questionnaires
• This type of data collection is quite popular ,
particularly in big enquiries
• It is being adopted by private individuals, research
workers, private and public organizations
• In this method a questionnaire is sent usually by
post to the persons concerned with a request to
answer a set of questions

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 13
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Merits
1. It is inexpensive method even when the universe is
large
2. It is free from the ‘bias’ of the interviewer
3. The answers are directly from the respondents
4. The respondents can take their own time in giving
well thought answers
5. Respondents could be reached for sure
6. There a scope to gather large samples
7. Large samples means –dependable and accurate
results
Advanced Research
28/08/2016 14
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Demerits
1. Low rate of return of the duly filled in questionnaires
2. This can be used only when the respondents are
educated and co-operative
3. The control over the questionnaire is lost once the
questionnaire is dispatched
4. The danger of questionnaire being incomplete
5. Difficulty in knowing whether the respondents were
really representative
6. This method is likely to be the slowest of all the
other methods

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 15
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Collection of data through schedules

• There is very little difference between this method

and the ‘Questionnaire method’
• Here schedules (performs) are used instead of
questionnaires
• The answers are obtained by the respondents from
‘enumerators’
• The role of the enumerator becomes crucial

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 16
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 1.Other methods

1. Warranty cards:
• These cards are usually postal sized cards which
are used by dealers
• These are used to collect information regarding
their products
• Usually the information sought is printed in the
form of questionnaire on the cards
• This will be placed inside the box containing the
product

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 17
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 2. Distributor or store audits
• This is related to marketing research

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 18
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 3.Pantry audits
• This is also related to the marketing research
• ‘Audit’ is an inspection by an independent body to
look into the accounts of an organization
• Pantry is a small room or cupboard in which food,
crockery, and cutlery are kept.

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 19
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 4.Consumer panel

• This is an extension of the pantry audit approach

• Again , it is related to the market research
• Consumers’ panel---a set of consumers
• This panel maintains detailed daily records of its
consumption
• This information is made available to the
invetigator

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 20
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 5. Use of mechanical devices
• The data collection in this method is by indirect
method
• Eye camera, pupilometric camera, motion picture
camera and audiometer are some of the devices
which are used to collect the required information

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 21
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Collection of secondary data
• Secondary data means data that are already
available
• They are the data which have already been
collected and analyzed by someone else
• The researcher in case wants to use secondary data,
then he has to look into various sources from where
he can obtain them
• Secondary data is mostly a published data
• Published data are usually available in:

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 22
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
---in different journals
---Books, magazines and newspapers
---reports and publications of various associations
connected with business, industry, banks, stock
exchange etc.,
• The sources of unpublished data are:
---diaries, letters
---may be available with scholars and research
workers
---trade unions, labor bureaus and other
public/private individuals and organizations
Advanced Research
28/08/2016 23
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Characteristics of secondary data
• 1. Reliability of the data:
• The reliability can be tested by finding out
certain things like:
--Who collected data?
-- what were the sources of such data?
--How were they collected?
---When were they collected?
---What was the level of accuracy etc.,

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 24
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
2. Suitability of data:
• The data that are suitable for one inquiry may not
be suitable for other inquiry
• To ascertain this the object, scope and nature of the
original inquiry must also be studied (background of
the secondary data)
• If the researcher finds differences in these, the data
will become unsuitable for the present inquiry and
such data should not be used

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 25
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
3. Accuracy of data:
• The required level of accuracy in the secondary data
should be confirmed
• If the secondary data are related to an area which
may be either narrower or wider than the area of
the present inquiry, then that secondary data will
also have to be considered inadequate
• Secondary data are ideally suited to compare and
contrast the data obtained by the present inquiry
provided the area and conditions at which data
extracted are same

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 26
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
Selection of appropriate method for data collection

• There are several methods of data collection

• As such a researcher must judiciously select the
method/s for his/her own study keeping the
following factors in mind:
1. Nature, scope and object of enquiry
2. Availability of funds
3. Time factor
4. Precision and accuracy required

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 27
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Advanced Research
28/08/2016 28
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Case study method
• Meaning: This is a very popular form of qualitative
analysis and involves a careful and complete
observation of a social unit
• The social unit may be, a person, a family, an
institution, a cultural group or even the entire
community
• The case study deals with the processes that take
place and their interrelationship
• It is essentially an intensive investigation of the
particular unit under consideration

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 29
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Characteristics of a case study
1. Under this method the researcher can take one
single social unit or more of such units for his/her
study purpose
2. He/she may even take a situation to study the same
comprehensively
3. The selected unit is studied intensively considering
all the minute details
4. This method results in fruitful hypotheses along
with the data which may be helpful in testing them
(hypotheses), and thus enable the generalized
knowledge to get richer and richer
Advanced Research
28/08/2016 30
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Assumptions

1. The assumption of uniformity in the basic human

nature in spite of the fact that human behavior
may vary according to situations (in the context of
sociology)
2. The assumption of studying the natural history of
the unit concerned
3. The assumption of comprehensive study of the
unit concerned

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 31
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Major phases involved
1. Recognition and determination of the status of the
phenomenon to be investigated or the unit of
attention
2. Collection of data, examination and history of the
given phenomenon
3. Diagnosis and identification of casual factors as a
basis for remedial or developmental treatment
4. Application of remedial measures i.e., treatment
and therapy
5. Follow up programme to determine effectiveness
of the treatment applied
Advanced Research
28/08/2016 32
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 In Engineering Research…

• A new device is proposed and modeled and

characterized.
• It has been developed for a particular
application.
• Demonstration of that application could be
done through a case study

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 33
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
• Design a FinFET in 9nm technology
• Model it
• Take the I-V and C-V characteristics.
• This device is proposed to build high speed compact
digital circuits, which dissipate very low power.
• Unless a detailed investigation is not carried out on
digital circuit built using the proposed device, you
cannot drive home the objectives.
• Build a digital circuit using the newly proposed
device and carry out a thorough investigation
covering the speed of operation, area consumed and
the power dissipated---in the form of a case study

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 34
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Advantages
1. Being an exhaustive study of a social unit, the case
study method enables us to understand fully the
observation pattern of the concerned unit
2. It helps in formulating relevant hypotheses along
with the data which may be helpful in testing
them
3. This method facilitates intensive study of social
units which is generally not possible if we use
either the observation method or method of data
collection through schedules

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 35
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
• Case study method has proved beneficial in
determining the nature of units to be studied along
with the nature of the population….Thus at times the
case study method is alternatively known as “mode
of organizing data”
• Case study method enhances the experience of the
researcher and this in turn increases his analyzing
ability and skill
• Case study involves in minute study of the different
facets of a social unit, the researcher can well
understand the social change
• This will also help in maintaining the continuity of
the research process
Advanced Research
28/08/2016 36
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
• Case study techniques are indispensible for
therapeutic and administrative purposes
• It is also of immense value in taking decisions
regarding several management problems

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 37
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64
 Limitations
1. The information gathered from case studies is often not
comparable
2. Real information is not often collected because the
subjectivity of the researcher does enter in the collection
of information in a case study
3. The danger of false generalization is always there in view
of the fact that no set rules are followed in collection of the
information
4. It consumes more time and requires lot of money (it is
expensive)
5. Response of the investigator is an important limitation as
he thinks that he has full knowledge of the unit and he
himself can answer all the enquiries

Advanced Research
28/08/2016 38
Methodology...RU,Bangalore-64