Data Collection Methods
Data Collection Methods
Slide 7-1
Primary Data Collection
Interviews
Observation
Questionnaire
Experiments
Slide 14-2
Primary Data Collection
Slide 7-4
Personal Interview
Advantages
Can clarify doubts about questionnaire
Can pick up non-verbal cues
Relatively high response/cooperation
Special visual aids and scoring devises can be used
Disadvantages
High costs and time intensive
Geographical limitations
Response bias / Confidentiality difficult to be assured
Some respondents are unwilling to talk to strangers
Trained interviewers
Slide 7-5
Telephone Interview
Advantages
Discomfort of face to face is avoided
Faster / Number of calls per day could
be high
Lower cost
Disadvantages
Interview length must be limited
Low response rate
No facial expressions
Slide 7-6
Self-administered
Advantages
Lowest cost option
Expanded geographical coverage
Requires minimal staff
Perceived as more anonymous
Disadvantages
Low response rate in some modes
No interviewer intervention possible for
clarification
Cannot be too long or complex
Incomplete surveys
Slide 7-7
Group Interviews
Focus groups consist typically of eight to
ten members with a moderator leading the
discussions on a particular topic,
concept, or product.
Focus group research is a generic term
for any research that studies how groups
of people talk about a clearly defined
issue. An expert panel is a group of
people specifically convened by the
researcher to elicit expert knowledge and
opinion about a certain issue.
Slide 7-8