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🔷 TOPIC (ii) — METHODS OF COLLECTING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA

Syllabus topic (ii) of 10 · runs until Topic (iv)

Covers: primary methods — experiment, interview, observation, questionnaire, schedules, local correspondents, projective techniques · secondary sources · precautions 🎯 Asked: 2024 · Q72 — example of primary data collection · 2022 · Q35 — method of collecting secondary data · 2022 · Q31 — sampling error

⚠️ Topic (iii) — Preparation of Questionnaires — is nested inside this topic, because the questionnaire is one of the primary collection methods. It is bracketed separately below.

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PART A — PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION METHODS

Note: the original notes number these 1, 2 … then jump to 6–9 for the "other important methods" and 10 for projective techniques. That numbering is kept as written.

1. Experiment Method

Manipulating one variable to determine whether changes in it cause changes in another.

Three kinds of variables [x + y = z]

• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Controlled variable / controlled environment

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2. Interview Method

Based on oral or verbal stimuli.

graph TD
    A[Interview Method] --> B[Direct Interview]
    A --> C[Indirect Interview]

2.1 Direct Interview

The investigator directly contacts the respondent.

2.2 Indirect Interview

Also called Indirect Personal Interview or Indirect Oral Interview. The investigator collects information from someone else who has the required information about the subject.

2.3 Telephonic Interview

The dominant method. Questions are asked over the phone.

2.4 Other important interview methods

2.5 Types of interview questions

⚠️ Leading and loading questions must be avoided in questionnaire design — see Topic (iii).

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3. Observation Method

Data from the field is collected by the observer through observation.

3.1 Classification of the observation method

graph TD
    Root[Classification] --> Plan[Plan]
    Root --> Conditions[Conditions]
    Root --> Participation[Participation]

    Plan --> Structured
    Plan --> Unstructured

    Conditions --> Controlled["Controlled<br>(Controlled conditions)"]
    Conditions --> Uncontrolled["Uncontrolled<br>(Naturalistic conditions)"]

    Participation --> C_Obs["==Complete observer=="]
    Participation --> Obs_Part["==Observer as participant=="]
    Participation --> Part_Obs["==Participant as observer=="]
    Participation --> C_Part["==Complete participant=="]

    C_Part -.-> Note["(Participant observation & Non-participant obs)"]

Disguised observation — the observer's identity is unknown to the subject. Example: "mystery shopping".

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PART B — TOPIC (ii) RESUMED: REMAINING PRIMARY METHODS

Schedules, local correspondents and projective techniques are collection methods, so they belong to Topic (ii). The "Questionnaires vs Schedules" comparison below also relates to Topic (iii).

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4. Schedules

A questionnaire filled in by enumerators. The investigator or enumerator personally visits informants with the questionnaire, asks the questions and notes the responses.

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5. Data from Local Correspondents

The investigator appoints a local correspondent or agent who collects information on the investigator's behalf.

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6. Questionnaires vs Schedules

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7–9. Other Important Methods

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10. Projective Techniques

Also known as Indirect Interviewing.

• Used to reach underlying motives and intentions
• Applied where the respondent resists revealing them
• Requires intensive training

10.1 Pictorial techniques

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PART C — SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION

Secondary data can be published or unpublished.

1. Published sources

2. Unpublished data

Some research institutes and universities do not publish their data, but it can still be used as a secondary source.

3. Precautions When Using Secondary Data

Demerits of secondary data:

• Proper data-collection procedure may not have been used
• Out-dated data
• Bias
• Does not fulfil the accuracy needs of the research
• Not suitable for the period of investigation

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4. One-Shot Recapitulation

Examples

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