In this article, you will learn about what is data collection?
An important part of any research project is collecting relevant data from various sources to find the answers to a research question, test the hypothesis, and assess the results.
In order to collect data, the researcher must determine the type of data, source of data, and the method of data collection that they will use. Researchers should also be clear about who, when, and where they plan to gather their information.
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A researcher’s choice of data collection method depends on their research question, their research design, and their knowledge of the variable they are studying. There are two broad categories of data collection methods:
Primary Data Collection Methods
The primary data are the first-hand data that was collected by the researcher for the first time and is therefore unique in its nature. When the research problem is unique and no one else is working on it, the researcher collects fresh data. Direct data collection by the researcher yields more precise results, but it is more time consuming and expensive.
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Secondary Data Collection Methods
Secondary data refers to information that has already been subjected to statistical analysis after being collected by another researcher. As a result, secondary data refers to information that has been gleaned from other sources. The use of secondary data has the advantage of being less expensive and more readily available, but the validity of the results can be called into question.
It is thus possible to obtain data from either source, depending on the study’s scope and the research objective pursued by the researcher.
