LECTURE NOTES in MATH 212 ( ENGINEERING DATA ANALYSIS)

BBODIESBOBODIESBBBBODIEBODIES
1.4 Data Collection

Why Collect Data?

Data collection is defined as the “process of gathering and measuring information

on variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer
queries, stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes. Data
collection is an important aspect of any type of research study. Inaccurate data collection
can impact the results of a study and ultimately lead to invalid results.
Engineers and scientists are constantly exposed to collections of facts, or data,
both in their professional capacities and in everyday activities. The discipline of statistics
provides methods for organizing and summarizing data and for drawing conclusions based
on information contained in the data.

Methods of Data Collection

Data can be collected in a variety of ways, in different settings, and from different
sources. Data collection methods include interviews, questionnaires, experiment,
observation, sample survey, census, etc that are either personally administered, sent
through the mail, or electronically administered; observations of individuals and events
with or without videotaping or audio recording and a variety of other motivational
techniques such as projective tests (Tim, 1997), (Burchfield,1996).

1. Interview method

An interview is a series of questions a researcher addresses personally to

respondents. An interview may be structured (where you ask clearly defined questions) or
unstructured, where you allow some of your questioning to be led by the responses of the
interviewee. Especially when using unstructured interviews, using a voice recorder can be a
good idea, if it does not affect the relationship with the person being interviewed.
Interviewing method is sub-divided into the following: Face-to-face interviews, Telephone
interviews, etc (Checkland et al 1998).

a. Face-to-face interviews

This type provides rich data, offer the opportunity to establish rapport with
the interviewees, and help to explore and understand complex issues. Many ideas
that are ordinarily difficult to articulate can also be surfaced and discussed during
such interviews. On the negative side, face-to-face interviews have the potential
for introducing interviewer bias and can be expensive if a big sample of subjects is
to be personally interviewed (Tim, 1997), (Erricker, 1971), (Burchfield,1996), (Matt,
2001).

b. Telephone interviews

This help to contact subjects dispersed over various geographic regions and obtain
responses from them immediately on contact. This is an efficient way of collecting
data when one has specific questions to ask, needs the responses quickly, and has
the sample spread over a wide geographic area. On the negative side, the
interviewer cannot observe the nonverbal responses of the respondents, and the
interviewee can block a call. Personally administering questionnaires to groups of
individuals (Tim, 1997).

1
LECTURE NOTES in MATH 212 ( ENGINEERING DATA ANALYSIS)
BBODIESBOBODIESBBBBODIEBODIES
Advantages of Interview Method

To get full range and depth of information.

Misunderstandings are avoided as far as humanly possible by carefully
defined terms

Sensitive questions can be carefully squeezed in between other less
sensitive ones by the interviewer.

Develops relationship with client.

Encouraging response more likely as people are most willing to respond on
person to person chat.

Status and educational level of the respondents enumerator may be used.

Can be flexible with clients(Tim, 1997), (Erricker, 1971).

Disadvantages of Interview Method


Can take much time.

Can be costly.

Personal prejudices, biases and other ill feelings are maximum under this
method especially when issues of what to wear, what to say, how to say it etc
are not stressed to the enumerator.

Constraint implication in terms of area to cover, persons to interview and other
resources is usually high.

Thorough training and supervision of the interviewers involves well carefully
planned and executed process that will reduce incorrect information.

Can be hard to analyze and compare.

Respondents may give out their confidential information in the presence of
interviewer. Example is whether they have an AIDS/HIV patient in his/her
household. Most respondents may answer correctly if mail questionnaire is used.

Interviewer can bias clients responses (Anyanwu, 2002), (Erricker, 1971).

2. Questionnaire method

A questionnaire is a series of written questions a researcher supplies to subjects,

requesting their response. Usually the questionnaire is self-administered in that it is
posted to the subjects, asking them to complete it and post it back. The way you will be
analyzing the data may influence the layout of the questionnaire. For example, closed
questions provide boxes for the respondent to tick (giving easily coded information),
whereas an open question provides for a box for the respondent to write answers in (giving
more freedom of information, but more difficulty coding) (Checkland et al 1998),
(Burchfield,1996), ( Anyanwu, 2002).

Advantages of Questionnaire Method

 Absence of bias where it is used to obtain information.

 It is a cheap and quick method of data collection.
 Respondent is at ease to fill the questionnaire.
 Respondents are likely to cooperate in questions that are confidential in nature.
 Absence of interview bias

Disadvantages of Questionnaire method

 Problem of non-response due to reluctance on the part of some respondents.
 Responses could be unduly delayed.
 Difficult to verify incorrect information supplied by a respondent.
 Wrong person may complete the form allowing errors to creep into the survey.
 Absence of enumerators to explain any intricacy in the questions.
 Poor method where a spontaneous answer is required.

2
LECTURE NOTES in MATH 212 ( ENGINEERING DATA ANALYSIS)
BBODIESBOBODIESBBBBODIEBODIES
3. Observational study method
Like experiments, observational studies attempt to understand cause – and effect
relationships. However, unlike experiments, the researcher is not able to control
i. How subjects are assigned to groups and or
ii. Which treatments each group receives (Matt, 2001).
Observational studies help to comprehend complex issues through direct
observation (either as a participant- or a nonparticipant-observer) and then, if possible,
asking questions to seek clarifications on certain issues. On the negative side, they are
expensive since long periods of observation are required, and observer bias may well be
present in the data. (Burchfield,1996), (Matt, 2001).

4. Experimental method
Experimental method may be used in scientific research as this is preferred to other
ways of collecting data in the science and engineering perspective. An experiment is a
controlled study in which the researcher attempts to understand cause and effect
relationships. The study is “controlled” in the sense that the researcher controls.
i. How subjects are assigned to groups and
ii. Which treatments each group receives (Matt, 2001).

Advantages of experimental method

 Absence of bias where it is used to obtain information or data.
 It is quick in data collection
 Data are more reliable and objective.
 It is the best way for data collection in scientific research.
 It is cost consuming.
Disadvantages of Experimental Method
 If the set-up is wrong, data will be incorrect.
 It is time consuming
 It needs only expert in the field. (Matt, 2001).

5. Survey Method
Survey research is a commonly-used method of collecting information about a
population of interest. The population may be composed of a group of individuals (e.g.,
children under age five, kindergarteners, parents of young children) or organizations (e.g.,
early care and education programs, k-12 public and private schools).
A survey may be administered to a sample of individuals (or to the entire population) at
a single point in time (cross-sectional survey), or the same survey may be administered to
different samples from the population at different time points (repeat cross-sectional).
Other surveys may be administered to the same sample of individuals at different time
points (longitudinal survey).
Regardless of the type of survey, there are two key features of survey research:

1. Questionnaires—a predefined series of questions used to collect information from

individuals.
2. Sampling—a technique in which a subgroup of the population is selected to answer
the survey questions. Depending on the sampling method, the information collected
may or may not be generalized to the entire population of interest.

Advantages
 Surveys are a cost-effective and efficient means of gathering information about a
population.
 Data can be collected from a large number of respondents. In general, the larger
the number of respondents (i.e., the larger the sample size), the more accurate will
be the information that is derived from the survey.

3
LECTURE NOTES in MATH 212 ( ENGINEERING DATA ANALYSIS)
BBODIESBOBODIESBBBBODIEBODIES
 Sampling using probability methods to select potential survey respondents makes it
possible to estimate the characteristics (e.g., socio-demographics, attitudes,
behaviors, opinions, skills, preferences and values) of a population without collecting
data from all members of the population.
 Depending on the population and type of information sought, survey questionnaires
can be administered in-person or remotely via telephone, mail, online and mobile
devices.
Disadvantages

 Questions asked in surveys tend to be broad in scope.

 Surveys often do not allow researchers to develop an in-depth understanding of
individual circumstances or the local culture that may be the root cause of
respondent behavior.
 Respondents may be reluctant to share sensitive information about themselves and
others.
 Respondents may provide socially desirable responses to the questions asked. That
is, they may give answers that they believe the researcher wants to hear or
answers that shed the best light on them and others. For example, they may over-
report positive behaviors and under-report negative behaviors.
 A growing problem in survey research is the widespread decline in response rates,
or percentage of those selected to participate who chose to do so.

6. Census method

A Census is a study that obtains data from every member of a population. In most
studies, a census is not practical, because of the cost and/ or time required (Erricker,
1971).
Advantages

 Intensive Study – Under census investigation, you must obtain data from each and
every unit of the population. Further, it enables the statistician to study more than one
aspect of all items of the population. To give an example, the Government conducts a
census investigation once every 10 years. The authorities collect the data regarding
the population size, males, and females, education levels, sources of income, religion,
etc.
 Reliable Data – The data that a statistician collects through a census investigation is
more reliable, representative, and accurate. This is because, in a census, the
statistician observes every item personally.
 Suitable Choice – It is a great choice in situations where the different items of the
population are not homogeneous.
 The basis of various surveys – Data from a census investigation is used as a basis in
various surveys.
Disadvantages
 Costs – Since the statistician closely observes each and every item of the population
before collecting the data, it makes a census investigation a very costly method of
investigation. Usually, government organizations adopt this method to collect detailed
data like the population census or agricultural census or the census of industrial
protection, etc.
 Time-consuming – A census investigation is time-consuming and also requires manpower
to collect original data.
 Possibilities of Errors – There are many possibilities of errors in the census
investigation method due to non-response, measurement, lack of preciseness of the
definition of statistical units or even the personal bias of the investigators.