DATA GATHERING

TECHNIQUES
Collecting Data
Primary Sources
data from government institutions, business
agencies and other organizations
example: data gathered from National Statistics Office
(NSO)
information from personal interviews

Secondary Sources
data from books, encyclopedia, journals,
magazines and research or studies conducted
by other individuals
Methods in Collecting Data
Direct or Interview Method

is a person-to-person interaction between an

interviewer and interviewee

the researcher obtains the information needed

by asking questions and inquiries from the
interviewee
Methods in Collecting Data
Direct or Interview Method

Advantages: Precise and consistent answers

can be obtained.

Disadvantages: It is time, money and effort

consuming and it will be applicable only for
small population.
Methods in Collecting Data
Indirect or Questionnaire Method

written responses are obtained by distributing

questionnaires

the researcher gives or distributes the

questionnaire to the respondents either by
personal delivery or by mail
Methods in Collecting Data
Indirect or Questionnaire Method

Advantages: Lesser time, money and efforts are

consumed.

Disadvantages: Many respondent may not be

consistent due to the poor construction of the
questionnaire. Inconsistent responses can no
longer be modified, thus, it reduces valid
number of respondents.
Methods in Collecting Data
Registration Method
is enforced by private organizations or
government agencies for recording purposes

this method of gathering data is perhaps the

most reliable because this is enforced by law

Examples:
birth and death rates – National Statistics Office (NSO)
number of registered cars – Land Transportation Office (LTO)
list of registered voters – Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
Methods in Collecting Data
Registration Method

Advantages: Organized data from an institution

can serve as ready references for future study
or for personal claims of people’s records.

Disadvantages: Problem arises only when an

agency doesn’t have a Management
Information System and if the system or process
of registration is not implemented well.
Methods in Collecting Data
Observation Method

is a scientific method of investigation that

makes possible use of all senses to measure or
to obtain outcomes/responses from the object of
study
Methods in Collecting Data
Observation Method

Advantages: Applied to respondents that cannot

be asked or need not speak.

Disadvantages: Subjectivity of information

sought cannot be avoided.
Methods in Collecting Data
Experimental Method

is used when the objective is to determine the

cause-and-effect of a phenomenon under some
controlled conditions

often used by scientific researchers

Methods in Collecting Data
Experimental Method

Advantages: There is objectivity of information

since a scientific method of inquiry is used.

Disadvantages: The whole method must be

repeated if the desired outcome is not reached.
Determining the Sample Size
to determine the sample size from the given
population size the Slovin’s formula is used

N
n
1  Ne 2

where: n = sample size

N = population size
e = margin of error
Determining the Sample Size
Example 1: Jennifer Lopez will conduct a survey to find out
what are the reasons why students hate Math. If there are
10 000 students in the school and Jennifer Lopez plans to
use a sample size using a 10% margin of error, what
should the sample size be?

N
n
1  Ne 2

10000
n
1  10000.10
2

n  99.01  99
Determining the Sample Size
Example 2: Suppose that Britney Spears will also conduct a
survey to that particular school (referring to Example 1) but she
would like to use 5% margin of error, what should be the size of
the sample?

N
n
1  Ne 2

10000
n
1  10000.05
2

n  384.62  385