Collecting your own data-Primary research | Data Collection Services — Startwork
Collecting your own data-Primary research | Data Collection Services — Stastwork
In every research studies, the scientist wants to identify the truth or they wish to develop meaningful insights into the problem. In order to make any valid conclusion about the research problem or hypothesis, we need valid evidence. Moreover, the evidence can be represented by collecting data (numeric or non-numeric in nature). In any statistical analysis, data collection is the fundamental step and there are two forms of data collection; Primary and Secondary method of data collection. I will describe you the meaning of primary data, examples of primary data collection and different ways of collecting the same.
Primary Data:
The researcher collected the Primary data through surveys, experiments, interviews, etc, and it is considered to be the best research methodology as the data are collected from the original source. However, before collecting the primary data, the main task of the researcher is to identify the sample population and the mode of data collection.
Examples of Primary Data Collection:
- Suppose if you are interested in identifying the sales of a product in the market and make a profitable business plan, then you may conduct a sample survey about the product to selected customers and identify the pattern of sales and fix a target for future years (Niraula, 2019).
- In many psychological experiments, they often collect primary data through lab experiments, questionnaires, etc, to understand the relationship between the variables under study.
Primary Data Collection Methods:
- Data collection through Interview — In this method, there are two groups: one is the researcher asking questions to the respondents or the interviewer and the other group is the people answering to the questions or interviewee
- Questionnaires and Surveys — In this case, the researcher frame a set of questions to be asked to the respondents and collect the data by circulating them. Mostly, a pilot study should be conducted when we make use of this data collection method. These data can be collected either offline mode (direct survey like a census) or on-line mode (google forum, email, etc).
- Data collection through observation — This type of data collection is often used in behavioral science. The researcher uses a tool to collect the data.
- Data through Experiments — This type of data collection is often carried out in the medical field. Suppose a researcher wants to identify the performance of a new drug and he/she conduct an experiment by taking a sample subject.
Statistical support service Once the collected the data then proceed with the next phase as statistical analysis. The statistical analysis is used to describe the data structure, classify the data, correlate or identify the relationship, validating the data, predicting the future outcomes in the study. Data analysis service offers several tests available in the literature for analyzing primary data. For example, if the sample size is small, then one may use the t-distribution test and if the sample is large enough then one may use a z-test, etc. In addition, there are a few situations that the data may be non-numeric in nature, then one can use the classification and clustering technique for analyzing the primary data (De Vaus, 1986).
Learn More: http://statswork.com/blog/collecting-your-own-data-primary-research-2/
The primary data collection method is often accurate and gives real-time conclusions. Primary research can be either qualitative or quantitative or a combination of both types in nature. On the basis of the data type, you can execute either qualitative or quantitative analysis to make conclusions.
