Elements Of Data Collection

Collecting data from a complex environment can be time-consuming and expensive. Consequently, it is necessary to have a plan and a systematic collection method that gains maximum information at minimum cost. Every effort should be made to comply with sound data collection principles so that the information received is as accurate and relevant as possible.

There are two types of data:

• Primary data and
• Secondary data.

Secondary data are collected by someone else and are available in published sources.

Quarterly profits published in the Finance Week are secondary data. For our purposes, primary data will refer to data collected directly by the investigator or by the organization employing the investigator.

Primary data are collected by a variety of methods: simple observation, personal interview self-enumeration, check sheets, electronic data capture, experiments simulated on a computer, and controlled laboratory or field experiments.

Let’s make sure that you know what the elements/ methods of data collection are before we work on the data collection plan.

Click here to download a handout that explains methods of data collection.

Click here to download a handout that explains helpful tools for structuring questionnaires.

Click here to download a handout that explains sampling.