Sources Of Data

Sources of Data

Importance of Data  Data are facts and other relevant materials, past and present, serving as bases for study and analyses  The data serve as bases or raw materials for analysis  Without analysis of factual data no specific inferences can be drawn on the question under study  Data form the basis for testing the hypotheses formulated in a study  Data also provide the facts and figures required for constructing measurement of scales and tables, which are analysed with statistical techniques.  Inferences on the results of statistical analysis and tests of significance provide the answers to research questions.

Types of Data: Primary Data

Secondary Data

Primary Data Primary Sources are original sources form which the researcher directly collects data that have not been previously collected. - Collection of data directly by the researcher on brand awareness, Brand preference, brand loyalty and other aspects of consumer behaviour from a sample of consumers by interviewing them. Primary data are first-hand information collected through various methods such as observation, interviewing, mailing questionnaire, etc.

Secondary Data: These are sources containing data

which have been collected and compiled for some selected purposes.

The secondary sources consists of readily available compendia and already compiled statistical statements and reports whose data may be used by researches for their studies

Government Publications - Census Publications - Annual Reports and Financial Statements of Comp. - Statistical Reports / Abstracts of Govt. Departments - Annual Reports of Various Ministries / Govt. Deptts. - CSO Reports – Monthly / Annually - Economic Surveys & State/District Statistical Abst. - Reports of National Sample Survey Organisation

Non-Government Publications - Reports from Various Industry / Trade Associations - Reports from Bombay Stock Exchange - Reports from Coffee Board, Coir Board, SAIL - Reports from Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) - Reports from various Export Promotion Councils

Publications of International Organizations - UNO, IMF, OECD, World Bank, ILO, WHO, etc.,

Others - Trade and Financial Journals - Newspapers, Magazines, etc.

Unpublished Records - Various Records and Registers maintained by Firms and Organizations - Accounting and Financial Records - Personnel Records - Register of Members - Minutes of Meetings - Inventory Records, etc.

Features of Secondary Data

- Readymade and readily available - Researcher has no original control over collection and classification. - Not Limited in Time and Space

Requirements of Secondary Data - Availability of Secondary Data - Relevance - Accuracy - Sufficiency