1. Lecture on Primary Data Collection
Agnes C. Rola
PAf 203

2. Primary Data
Primary data are generated by the researchers themselves. In contrast, secondary data are taken from government agencies, research institutes, libraries.

3. When do we collect primary data?
When we cannot get the information from the secondary data.

4. Why do we use primary data?
It gives us direct field evidence of the problem that is being investigated.
The researcher will have a feel of the range of information that can be generated for a certain indicator.

5. Primary Data Collection Methodologies
Sample surveys
Focus Group Discussions (FGD)
Key Informant Surveys (KI)
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)

6. Sample Surveys
Needs sampling methodologies to generate representative samples.
Expensive
Considers many respondents
More accurate data, less biases
Can be subjected to rigorous statistical analysis
Limited depth of data
Structured instruments

7. Data Collection for sample surveys
Personal interviews
Phone interviews
Mail

8. Focus Group Discussion
Limited respondents
Focused topic
More depth in data
Less expensive
Less accurate data
Qualitative data analysis
Structured questions but more flexible than sample survey

9. FGDs
Data collection is by personal group interaction

10. Key Informant Surveys
Few case respondents: only key persons in the community
Less expensive than the FGD
Very in-depth data (deeper insights)
Person to person interview
Guide questions instead of structured questionnaire
Qualitative data generation

11. KIs Flexible Longer administration Need for skilled interviewers
High element of bias
Amenable to qualitative data analysis.

12. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
Usually used when selecting a study site
View primary data collection from the community perspective
Generate community data on biophysical and socio economic characteristics
Uses the transect methods in describing the area
Multidisciplinary team is needed
Can also use any of the above methods for data collection
Very qualitative and descriptive analysis

13. Design of Data Collection Instruments
Design is dependent on the research objectives
Identify the variables that you want to study
Determine how the variables will be measured
Design the questionnaire to follow the logic of your research (sequence of questions is very important.

14. Design of Instruments
Design questionnaires that is respondent friendly.
Design of questionnaires can have areas for triangulation.
Questions should be direct to the point, but probing.

15. Conduct of Surveys Enumerators should be properly trained.
Enumerators should be courteous.
Editing the filled up questionnaire in the field is ideal.
Field editors and enumerators should have good knowledge of possible range of responses.

16. More tips
Design your dummy tables before designing your questionnaire.
List all the variables you need for your research; then search secondary sources, last option is primary data collection.

17. Exercise 1 Define a very simple research question.
Then by your own group discussion, determine whether you may want to use the sample survey, the FGD or the KI.
Design the appropriate questionnaire. Be sure that this will contain all the variables you will need to clarify the problem.