E l e m e n t a r y S t a t i s t i c s 11

Collecting Data
Chapter This chapter will introduce you to the methods of collecting data. It also

2 discusses sampling and some sampling techniques. Think of this unit like the
exercises you would do before an important sporting event. Its goal is to prepare
you as you will engage research endeavor in the future.

LEARNING TARGET
At the end of this unit, you are expected to :
LESSON 2: a. identify the appropriate way of collecting data;
Methods of Collecting Data b. identify the appropriate sampling for a certain research study;
c. differentiate random sampling from non-random; and
LESSON 3:
d. collect statistical data.
Census, Sampling and Sampling
Techniques

I
3.1 Random or Probability Sampling n research, statisticians use data in many different ways. As stated
3.2 Non-random or Non-Probability previously, data can be used to describe situations or events. For example,
Sampling a businessman might want to know the suitability of building a coffee shop near

LESSON 4:
the university, so he conducted a feasibility study for that area. In another
Advantages and Disadvantages of situation, the customer satisfaction feedback assessment team conducts a survey to
Sampling the university’s offices to assess the needs of their clienteles as a basis of
providing quality services. In addition, data can be used to determine whether the
educational goals of an institution are being met. Finally, trends in various areas,
such as the stock market, can be analyzed, enabling prospective buyers to make
more intelligent decisions concerning what stocks to purchase. These examples
illustrate some situations in which data collection can help people make better
decisions in life.

LESSON 2 : METHODS OF COLLECTING DATA

1. Survey Method. We sometimes use sur vey when data can only be
obtained through responses from people in a sample. We can obtain data
through questionnaires which may be distributed by hand, face-to-face or
telephone interviews.

 Direct or Interview Method. It is a face-to-face encounter between the

interviewer and the interviewee. The interview may vary according to the
preference of either or both parties.
 E l e m e n t a r y S t a t i s t i c s 12

Example : A short face-to-face interview to know the opinions of consumers about a new bath soap.

 Indirect or Questionnaire Method. Unlike direct method, this method utilized questionnaires to obtain
information. It can be done by mail or hand-carried to the intended respondents.

Example 1: A survey to investigate the attitude of the students in studying mathematics.

Example 2: A survey to investigate the opinions of students about changing the grading system.

2. Registration Method. This method of gathering information is governed by laws.

Example: birth certificates, death certificates and licenses, etc.

3. Observation Method. This method is used to data that ar e per taining to behavior s of an individual or a
group of individuals at the time of occurrence of a given situation are best obtained by observations.

Example 1: An observation to investigate the number of students studying in the library from 1pm to 5pm.

Example 2: An observation to determine the number of students who go to a mall after school hours.

4. Experiment Method. This is used to deter mine the cause and effect r elationship of cer tain phenomena
under controlled conditions. This method usually employed by scientific researchers.

Example 1: A drug company wants to test the effectiveness of its new product in treating virus infection.
An experiment or clinical test is done by treating fifty persons with the new product and another fifty persons
using the existing drug. The results are analyzed statistically to determine if the new product is significantly
effective in treating virus infection.

Example 2: At the start of the semester, Mrs. Belmonte administered an examination to two of her classes
in order to determine the entry knowledge of the students. During the semester, she applied cooperative
learning approach to one class and the usual approach to the other class. At the end of the semester, she again
administered an examination and compared the results of the two classes so that she could know if the
cooperative learning approach was more effective than the usual approach.

Take this Challenge

Exercise 1: Supply the advantages and disadvantages of using each of the following methods of collecting
data.

1. Survey Method 3. Observation Method

2. Registration Method 4. Experiment Method

LESSON 3 : CENSUS, SAMPLING AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

In complete enumeration/census, measurements on the variables of interest will be taken from all the
elements in the population.

Example 1. To know the number of persons in different places in our country, the government conducts
a census by taking into consideration the entire population. The data are stored in the National Statistics Office
(NSO) now Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
 E l e m e n t a r y S t a t i s t i c s 13

Example 2. To know if the breaks for cars produced by a car manufacturing company are of good
quality, the company implements a strict rule for testing all the breaks.

In sampling, measurements will be taken only from a subset of a population.

3.1 Sampling Techniques (Random or Probability Sampling)

Random Sampling is a process whose members had an equal chance of being selected from the population;
it is also called probability sampling.

1. Simple Random Sampling. It is a pr ocess of selecting (n) sample size in the population via r andom
numbers or through lottery. Two types: SRS without replacement and SRS with replacement
2. Systematic Sampling. Resear cher s obtain systematic samples by number ing each subject of the
population and then selecting every kth subject.
Example 1: Suppose there were 2400 subjects in the population and a sample of 40 subjects were
needed. Since 2400/40 = 60, then k=60, and every 60th subject would be selected.

3. Stratified Sampling . Resear cher s obtain str atified samples by dividing the population into gr oups
(called strata) according to some characteristic that is important to the study, then sampling from each
group. Samples within the strata should be randomly selected.
Example 1: Suppose the president of a two-year college wants to learn how students feel about a certain
issue. Furthermore, the president wishes to see if the opinions of the first-year students differ from those
of the second-year students. The president will randomly select students from each group to use in
the sample.

Example 2: A researcher wishes to estimate average enrollments and faculty sizes for high schools.
Private institutions tend to be smaller than the public ones, so stratified sampling is used where in two
strata are private and public.

Example 3: A standard quality control check an automobile batteries involves simply measuring the
weight. One particular shipment from the manufacturer consisted of batteries produced in six different
months. The investigator decides to stratify in months the sampling inspection to observe a month-to-
month variation.

4. Cluster Sampling. Her e the population is divided into gr oups called clusters by some means such as
geographic area or schools in a large school district, etc. Then the researcher randomly selects some of these
clusters and uses all members of the selected clusters as the subjects of the samples.

Example 1: Suppose a researcher wishes to survey apartment occupants in a subdivision. If there

are 12 apartment buildings, the researcher can select at random 3 buildings from the 12 and interview
all the occupants of these apartment.

Example 2: The circulation of a newspaper wishes to estimate the average number of newspapers
purchased per household in a particular barangay. The 1 000 households in the barangay are listed
in 100 clusters of 10 households each, and a simple random sample of 4 clusters is selected, and all
households in these clusters constitute the sample.
 E l e m e n t a r y S t a t i s t i c s 14

Example 3: A forester wishes to estimate the average height of trees in a plantation. The plantation is
divided into quarter-acre plots. A simple random sample of 20 plots is selected from the 386 plots in the
plantation. The forester then measures the height of all trees in the sampled plots for his study.

Example 4: A quality control inspector wants to estimate the average weight of cookies filled in box. There
were 15 available box of cookies . The quality control inspector randomly selected seven boxes and measure the
weight of every cookie in each box.

Take this Challenge

Exercise 2: Classify each sample as simple random, systematic, stratified, or cluster sampling.
1. Twenty out of fifty-five Presidents of Irrigators Association were selected randomly using a sampling interval

2. Every 50th ‘chorizo’ manufactured is checked to determine its protein content.

3. School principals are selected using random numbers to determine their monthly salaries.

4. Every fifth client entering the guidance office is asked to answer the Customer Satisfaction Survey.

5. A researcher aims to get the metacognitive levels of freshman students. So, he conducted a survey to 50
students per college.

3.2 Sampling Techniques (Non-Random or Non-Probability Sampling)

1. Convenience Sampling. A process of selecting a group of individuals who conveniently are available for
study. The investigator chooses the closest live persons as respondents. "Captive audience" sampling.
Example: A researcher may only include close friends and clients to be included in the sample
population.

2. Quota Sampling. Equivalent to a stratified sample with the added requirement that each stratum is
generally represented in the sample in the same proportion as in the entire population.
Example: 60% democrats and 40% republicans - select a sample of the two

3. Purposive Sampling. The r esear cher uses his or her own judgment about which r espondents to
choose, and picks those who best meets the purposes of the study.

4. Snowball Sampling. Has achieved incr eased use in r ecent year s; par ticular ly by r esear cher s
conducting observational research and in community studies. Conducted in stages. In the first stage a few
persons having the requisite characteristics are identified and interviewed. These persons are used as
informants to identify others who qualify for inclusion in the sample. The second stage involves
interviewing these persons who in tum lead to still more persons who can be interviewed in the third
stage, etc. The term "snowball" stems from the analogy of a snowball, which begins small but becomes
bigger and bigger and rolls downhill. Also called "chain referral sampling" particularly useful in deviant
studies and subcultures (drug addicts, etc).
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Take this Challenge

Exercise 3: Classify each sample as convenience, quota, purposive or snowball sampling.

1. Mr. Cruz and his company were hired by a prospective senatorial candidate to study whether the latter would
win the election. They conducted the surveys or interviews in places where people voted for the winners in the
series of previous elections. They did this because they believed that the people would again vote for the
winners in the next election.

2. You are asked by your teacher to conduct a study on how six-year old children acquire number sense. You
may consider your six-year old brother or sister or any six-year old child in your neighborhood to have ample
time in observing and interviewing your respondents.

3. You are to investigate the relationship of students’ performance in Math and their attitude towards the subject.
However, you are only given limited time to do the study. So, you only considered 25 out of 500 students in
your school.

LESSON 4: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SAMPLING

ADVANTAGES OF SAMPLING
1. Economy
A census or complete enumeration may not be practical and is almost never economical. That’s why,
sampling in research has an economic advantage. Obviously, taking a sample requires fewer resources than a
census or complete enumeration.

2. Timeliness
A sample may provide you with needed information quickly. For example, you are a Doctor and a disease
has broken out in a village within your area of jurisdiction, the disease is contagious and it is killing within hours
nobody knows what it is. You are required to conduct quick tests to help save the situation. If you try a census of
those affected, they may be long dead when you arrive with your results. In such a case just a few of those
already infected could be used to provide the required information.

3. The large size of many populations

Many populations about which inferences must be made are quite large. For example, consider the population
of our country which is over 90 million people. A responsible agency/organization has to plan a survey for the
coming election for Presidential bet. But the big size of the population makes it physically impossible to
conduct a census. In such a case, selecting a representative sample may be the only way to get the information
from the voters.

4. Inaccessibility of some of the population

There are some populations that are so difficult to get access to that only a sample can be used. Like people
in prison, like crashed airplanes in the deep seas, presidents etc. The inaccessibility may be economic or time
related. Like a particular study population may be so costly to reach like the population of a certain country that
only a sample can be used. In other cases, a population of some events may be taking too long to occur that
only sample information can be relied on.
 E l e m e n t a r y S t a t i s t i c s 16

5. Destructiveness of the observation accuracy

Sometimes, the very act of observing the desired characteristic of a unit of the population destroys it for the
intended use. Good example of this occur in quality control. For example to test the quality of a fuse, to determine
whether it is defective, it must be destroyed. To obtain a census of the quality of a lorry load of fuses, you have to
destroy all of them. This is contrary to the purpose served by quality-control testing. In this case, only a sample
should be used to assess the quality of the fuses.

6. Greater Accuracy and Efficiency

When all entities are measured, the measurement error increases.

7. Greater Scope
More information can be extracted even with a limited amount of resource because of generalizations.

8. Research Ethics
A researcher should control the use of animals, and it should be under an ethical framework.

DISADVANTAGES OF SAMPLING

1. There are chances of bias in the selection of the sampling method.

2. Appropriate calculation of sample size is a challenging task.

3. It requires adequate knowledge of the subjects.

4. When the population is not homogenous, there is a need for an expert who has specialized knowledge in
sampling.

CHAPTER 2 SUMMATIVE TEST

A. Review about sampling and describe each sampling techniques using the graphic organizer below.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

Random or Probability Sampling Non-Random or Non-Probability Sampling

Simple Random Convenience

Systematic Quota

Stratified Purposive

Cluster Snowball
 E l e m e n t a r y S t a t i s t i c s 17

B. Differentiate stratified sampling from cluster sampling using a graphic organizer.

C. Read and understand the statements below. Write the letter of the correct answer.
1. A researcher divided participants into two groups according to sex and then selected members from each
group for his sample. What sampling method was the researcher using?
a. Cluster c. Systematic
b. Simple Random d. Stratified
2. A politician ask his neighbors their opinions about a controversial issue. What type of sampling is this?
a. Simple Random c. Cluster
b. Stratified d. None of the above
3. A school request on each clients to fill out a satisfaction survey on the services they availed. What type of
sampling is this?
a. Simple Random c. Stratified
b. Systematic d. None of the above
4. A principal order t-shirts and wants to check some of them to make sure they were printed properly. She
randomly selects 2 of the 10 boxes of shirts and checks every shirt in those 2 boxes.
a. Cluster c. Stratified
b. Systematic d. Systematic
5. Which one of these sampling methods is a probability sampling?
a. Quota c. Convenience
b. Purposive d. Simple Random
6. Michael is trying to gather data for his study. He goes to a fast food restaurant during the lunch hour and asks
people who walk into the restaurant if they would be willing to fill out a questionnaire. Which sampling
method is Michael using?
a. Convenience c. Quota
b. Purposive d. Snowball
7. Matthew is gathering data for his study. Matthew tells his research assistants to be sure to interview 20 Grade
6 pupils, 20 Grade 7 and 20 Grade 8 students. Which sampling method is Matthew using?
a. Convenience c. Quota
b. Purposive d. Snowball
8. Which of the following is not a type of non-probability sampling?
a. Snowball c. Quota
b. Stratified d. Convenience
9. When people are readily available, volunteer, or are easily recruited to the sample, this is called
a. Snowball Sampling c. Stratified Sampling
b. Convenience Sampling d. Random Sampling
10. Which one of these data collection methods has the highest response rate?
a. Online c. Phone
b. Personal d. Postal
11. Mystery shopping is a form of:
a. Questionnaire c. Analysis
b. Observation d. Postal survey
 E l e m e n t a r y S t a t i s t i c s 18

12. A primary data collection method that involves tracking behavior over a period of time is called
a. Browsing c. Sampling
b. Observation d. Testing
13. Which one of these data collection methods is the fastest way to collect data?
a. Online c. Phone
b. Personal d. Postal
14. Which one of these data collection methods is the most expensive way to collect data per respondents?
a. Online c. Phone
b. Personal d. Postal
15. Why is experimental data collection a favorable method?
a. Because it only requires reviewing existing data
b. Because this usually consists of interview, and it is easy to find people who want to participate
c. Because it takes the least amount of time and is inexpensive.
d. Because experimental data collection typically produces the most valid data

CRITERIA
Content — 5 points
100-Word
R efl ect i on Organization— 5 points
10 points

From this unit, I have learned that ...

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