Topic: Observation, Data and Its Types

By
Aqib
(BS Student)
(Registration No: PS120182003)

Submitted to:Sarfraz Ahmad, Lecturer

Course Name: Statistics

Department of Islamic and Pakistan Studies

Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat-26000
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, (Pakistan)
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Table of Contents

S.No Detail Page No

1. Introduction 2
2. Purpose of observastion 2
3. Types of Observation 2

4. Data 3

5. Types of Data 3

6. References 5
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Observation

Introduction
Observation is as a means of gathering information for research, may be defined as perceiving
data through the senses: sight, hearing, tastes, touch and smell.

Purpose of Observation
1. To enable the researcher to gather empirical data which are difficult to obtain by other
means.
2. To enable the researcher to gather sufficient data to supplement or verify information
gathered by other means.
3. To enable the researcher to gather information or data needed to describe the aspect of a
variable being studied which cannot described accurately without observation.
4. To enable the researcher to gather directly primary data or first-hand information for his
study for a more accurate description and interpretation. Purpose of Observation
5. To enable the researcher to gather data from the laboratory or elsewhere through
experimentation. Purpose of Observation

Types of Observation
1- Participant Observation
The observer takes active part in the activities of the group being observed. It means the
activities of a group in which an observer himself participate and note the situation. He
willingly mixes with the group and perform his activities as an observer not merely a
participator who criticize the situation. In other words he takes place and share the activities
with his group.
For example when we study the rural and urban conditions of Asian people, we have to go
there and watched what is going on. The best philosophy of participant observation is that we
watch the phenomena not to ask. The actual behavior of the group can be observed only by
participant observation not by any other method.

2- Non-Participant Observation
The non-participant observation has a lack of participation of the observer in his group
activities. He either watch the phenomena from a distance or participate in the group but never
in its activities. He only sit in the group but do not interest in the process.

3- Controlled Observation
Here observer and observee or subject both are controlled. When observation is pre-
planned and definite, then it is termed as controlled observation. In control observation,
mechanical devices are used for precision and standardized. So, control increase accuracy,
reduce bias, ensure reliability and standardization. Some of the devices are as under.
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 Observational plan
 Observational schedule
 Mechanical appliances like, camera, maps, films, video, tape recorder etc
 Team of observers
 Socio Metric Scale
4- Un-Controlled Observation
Uncontrolled observation takes place in natural setting without the influence of external or
outside control. The observer does not plan in advance but this is related to day-to-day
happenings and socio-cultural problems. It studies some of our life situations.
5- Structured Observation
It this type careful information’s are recorded in a standardized way. It is a planned
observation of a phenomena and to follow certain patterns, rules and designs for the
purpose what, how and when to observe. Types of Observation
6- Unstructured Observation
Unstructured observation is opposite to structured. This is not systematic and un-planned
observation. A researcher do not set a plan in advance but he get the information’s freely.
There is no rules to follow by the researcher.
7- General or Layman Observation
General or layman observation make by people in day-to-day happenings. They see many
things daily but there is no objectivity of their study. For example a person see the children
playing in a garden is general observation.
8- Scientific Observation
Scientific observation is based on some scientific rules and deliberate thinking. The
observer must know what to observe. He have proper planning, objectivity, hypothesis and
observation schedule in his study. Scientific observation is reliable and more standardized
than general observation. Types of Observation

II . Data
A collection of facts or information. Examples: Restaurants in Saudi Arabia. Types of Cars
Heights of all students in your class Age of all students in YUC
Example: Find the heights of all students in your class. Organize and summarize the
data. Statistic in real life? How many of you like Albaik, KFC, McDonalds, or Pizza hut?
Albaik 32% KFC 36% McDonalds 11% All 21%

TYPES OF DATA:
1. Primary Data
2. Secondary Data
3. Qualitative Data
4. Quantitative Data

1. Primary Data
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Primary data means original data that has been collected specially for the purpose in
mind. It means when an authorized organization, investigator or an enumerator collects
the data for the first time from the original source. Data collected this way is called
primary data. For example: Your own questionnaire, survey, information.Survey : Are
Pepsi/Coke bad for health? 1) Strongly Agree 2) Agree 3) Neutral
2. Secondary Data: Secondary data is data that has been collected for another purpose.
When we use Statistical Method with Primary Data from another purpose for our
purpose we refer to it as Secondary Data. It means that one purpose's Primary Data is
another purpose's Secondary Data. Secondary data is data that is being reused. Usually
in a different context. For example: Data from a Book, Newspaper, Magazine, or
Internet.
3. Qualitative Data
Qualitative Data measures a quality or characteristic on each experimental unit. It is a
categorical data.
Examples:
 Hair color (black, brown, blonde, white, grey, mahogany)
 Make of car (Dodge, Honda, Ford, Toyota)
 Gender (male, female)
 Place of birth (Riyadh, Jeddah, Yanbu)

4. Quantitative Data
Quantitative data is a numerical measurement expressed in terms of numbers. For
example: Temperature= “26 degrees" Height = "1.8 meters" Length = “2.5 feet” Age = “9
years” Note: Quantitative data always are associated with a scale measure
(degree/feet/years).Quantitative Data measure a numerical quantity on each
experimental unit.
Examples For each orange tree, the number of oranges is measured. – Quantitative For
a particular day, the number of cars entering a college campus is measured. –
Quantitative . Time until a light bulb burns out (4 months) – Quantitative

Discrete and Continuous Data

There are two types of Quantitative Data
1. Discrete (in whole numbers) Exp: Number of Questions in Exam 5, 7, 14 Number of
cars, Number of students 3000
2. Continuous (in decimal points) Exp: Temperature of Yanbu on Sunday 26.5 degrees
Your Height 5.3” Your Weight 120.5 lbs Shoe size 7.5
Discrete and Continuous Data Discrete data usually occurs in a case where there are
only a certain number of values, or when we are counting something (using whole
numbers). Continuous data makes up the rest of numerical data. This is a type of data
that is usually associated with some sort of physical measurement (like
feet/inches/kilogram.
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References

 https://www.slideshare.net/farhanashaheen1/basics-stat-ppttypes-of-data

 https://www.slideshare.net/SarfrazAhmad2/observation-82426119