Research & Data Collection

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The response address the queries posted in 1700 words with references.

//Before explaining about the advantages and disadvantages of observation and Differences between Primary and Secondary Data, it is essential to have knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of personal interview and self- administered interview.//

Research & Data Collection

1.

Survey - Survey is a method of data collection from the views and opinions of a group of people. It includes the following methods for data collection -

A) Personal interview - In this method a person that is called interviewer, ask some questions to the other person or persons. The other person can also ask the questions at the same time to the interviewer. It may be in the structured and unstructured form.

Advantages-

More information can be obtained.
Interviewer can overcome the resistance by his own skills.
Personal information can be obtained easily.
Misinterpretation can be avoided concerning questions.
Personal interview through phone is relatively faster than other methods.
Disadvantages and Problems -

It is an expensive method.
Possibility of biasness.
More time consuming method.
There may be some systematic errors.
It is applicable for a small population survey.
B) Self administered- Self administered method is a reliable and cost effective technique of data collection. This method of data collection is most popular method in the case of large surveys.

Advantage -

There is low cost even when the universe is large and is widely spread geographically.
Respondent have adequate time to answer.
Free from biasness of the interviewer.
Use of large samples made the data reliable and dependable.
Disadvantage -

Less response.
It can be used only when respondent are educated and cooperating.
Slowest method for data collection.
Less control on the data.
//Above is the explanation about the advantages and disadvantages of personal interview and self -administered interview. Now, as per the requirements, explanation about the advantages and disadvantages of observation and Differences between Primary and Secondary Data, is to be discussed.//

Observation - This method of data collection is mostly used for the studies relating to the behavioral sciences. In this method, information is collected by the investigators' own direct observation without asking to the respondent.

Advantages-

Elimination of the subjective biasness.
Information can be related to the current situations.
Independent from the desire of the respondent.
Disadvantages and problems -

It is an expensive method.
Limited information.
Unforeseen factors can interfere in the observation.
Experiment - In this method, information is collected under a controlled situation. In this method, the ...