Data Collection Methods
Data Collection Methods
Primary data collection involves gathering
data firsthand through methods like
surveys, interviews, experiments, or
observation studies.
Secondary data collection involves
utilising existing data sources such as
databases, government reports, scholarly
articles, or other pre-collected data.
Examples include secondary data analysis,
web scraping, sensor data collection, and
social media monitoring.
Alt text: Surveys to gather data
Primary Data Collection Method : Surveys
Surveys involve gathering information from
individuals or groups through questionnaires,
interviews, or online forms. Surveys can be
conducted in person, over the phone, via
email, or through online platforms.
Example:
A company conducts a customer satisfaction
survey to gather feedback on their products
and services through online forms or mailed
questionnaires.
Alt text: Surveys to gather data
Primary Data Collection Method : Observational Studies
Observational studies involve observing and
recording behaviours, events, or phenomena
directly as they occur in natural settings. This
method is often used in fields such as
anthropology, sociology, and psychology.
Example:
Researchers studying children's play behavior
might observe them in a playground and
record their interactions and activities.
Alt text: Observational studies
Primary Data Collection Method : Experiments
Experiments are controlled procedures designed
to test hypotheses and determine causal
relationships between variables. Data is collected
by manipulating one or more variables and
observing the effects on other variables.
Example:
A pharmaceutical company conducts clinical
trials to test the effectiveness of a new drug by
administering it to one group of participants and
Alt text: Collecting data through experiments a placebo to another group.
Secondary Data Collection Method: Secondary Data Analysis
Secondary data analysis involves using existing
data that has been collected for other purposes.
This data may come from sources such as
government agencies, research organisations, or
academic institutions.
For example, the Ministry of Education routinely
collects data on student demographics,
standardised test scores, attendance records, and
family income levels for administrative purposes.
Alt text: Analysing existing data
Example:
A researcher analyses census data to study population trends in a particular region.
Secondary Data Collection Method: Web Scraping
Web scraping involves extracting data from
websites using automated tools or scripts. This
method is commonly used to collect information
from online sources such as social media
platforms, e-commerce sites, and news websites.
Example:
A data analyst uses a Python script with
BeautifulSoup library to scrape product prices
Alt text: Extracting data from a website from an e-commerce website.
The script sends requests to product pages, extracts price information from HTML
elements, and stores it in a CSV file for further analysis.
Secondary Data Collection Method: Sensor Data Collection
Sensor data collection involves gathering
data from sensors embedded in various
devices and systems. This method is used
in fields such as environmental
monitoring, healthcare, and IoT (Internet
of Things) applications.
Alt text: Smart agriculture with sensor technology
Example:
In smart agriculture, soil moisture sensors gather data on soil moisture levels in crop
fields. This data is transmitted to a central system, allowing farmers to remotely
monitor soil conditions and optimise irrigation schedules, leading to improved crop
yield and resource efficiency.
Secondary Data Collection Method: Social Media Monitoring
Social media monitoring involves collecting data
from social media platforms such as Twitter,
Facebook, and Instagram. This data can provide
insights into public opinions, trends, and
behaviours.
Example:
A marketing agency tracks mentions of a client's
brand on social media using monitoring tools.
They analyse sentiment and engagement
metrics to tailor marketing strategies and
Alt text: Data from social media platforms
improve brand reputation, driving sales.
