COLLECTION OF DATA

Collection of data is an important part of Statistics. Data should be collected in a manner that they are
accurate and convenient to use.
Data is a collection of facts or information. They may be gathered by using the following methods.
 Conducting Surveys
 Observing the Outcomes of Events
 Taking Measurements in Experiments
 Reading Statistical Publication
The interview method and the questionnaire method can be used in conducting surveys. The interview
method is done when a person solicits information from another person. The person gathering the data
is called the interviewer, while the person supplying the data is the interviewee.
If a survey involves a series of questions, the interview method will be very tedious one to employ.
Hence, the questionnaire method is advisable. The firm prepares a printed questionnaire and distribute
these to several respondents who shall in turn answer the questionnaire and give it back to the firm. In a
school that wishes to upgrade classroom instruction, the administration usually ask students to rate
their teachers in different criteria by asking to fill out an evaluation form. Behavioral scientists are
primarily concerned with the behavior of either an individual or a group of individuals. The data are
gathered either individually or collectively by means of observation. The person who gathers the data is
called investigator while the person being observed is called the subject. The physicist and chemist
make use of the experimentation method in gathering data.

ORGANIZATION OF DATA

3 4 5 4 3 4 1 6 5 2
4 5 2 3 6 3 3 2 1 3
2 3 4 5 3 2 4 3 4 5
4 2 5 3 4 6 3 5 3 6
1 3 4 2 3 4 2 4 6 3

1. How many students were surveyed?

2. How many families have at least 2 cell phones in their possession?
3. How many families have less than 4 cell phones?

The data collected above are called raw data. These are data collected in a survey. We can hardly see
any set of raw data. Hence, we have to organize the data using a table by following the given steps.

1. Set up a table using three columns.

Number of Cell Phones Tally Frequency

1
2
3
4
 5

6
Total

2. Read each item in the raw data and mark a stroke (or tally) in the Tally column in the same row
as its class.

Number of Cell Phones Tally Frequency

1
2
3
4
5
6
Total

3. The frequency of the class is the number of times each class occurs. Write down the frequency
of each class by counting its corresponding tally marks. Find the sum of all the frequencies and
write it as shown.

Number of Cell Phones Tally Frequency

1
2
3
4
5
6
Total

The table formed above is called a frequency table. A frequency table shows a clear and definite
information about a set of data. Wth frequency table, we can easily know which class has the
lowest frequency.