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Methodology of Social Research

notes

Notes research work could move forward on the basis of collected information and
figures, some conclusions could be made, generalization could be done. All is
information, figures and knowledge comes under the data.

Meaning of Data

for collection of data, researcher needs to have overview of the consciousness. Although it is correct that
within the facts all types of information come from informers with the help of different technologies.
only that information is included within the facts that are eligible for overview and can be written.
For the elaboration of scientific knowledge, simple looking small-small information’s collected on the
basis of data practice are very important. this collected information is called as data. Based on this
data, scientific results are found and rules are rendered and theories are made.
Data collection is the aim of every science, whether it is physical science or social science. Scientific
rules can be rendered only based on properly arranged collection of facts. relation of work and effect
of incident can be known from data collection, relation of cause and effect can be known. in every
science efforts are made to know the cause and effects of different incidents. therefore we can say that
progress of science depends on facts. In different words each word move ahead based on scientific
facts, and not on the basis of imagination.
in American college dictionary it has been reported to clarify the meaning of data that the event that
has actually occurred, is what happened, is given the name data. Here we have to remember that not
only tangible incidents of physical science are the basis of data in social science but also intangible
incidents such as trust, emotions, mentality or thinking also come under the data.

Types of Data
Data related to every study subject or problem is very different, some data are quantitative while
others are qualitative. for study data can be collected with the help of different techniques. Data
can be collected through the medium of observation-method, interview, schedule or questionnaire
sent by post. sometimes keeping in mind the nature of study subject some data are also used that
are not collected by the researcher or its helpers but they are collected by other researcher for their
own study. these types of data are collected from books, reports, scripts, diaries or census report.
therefore data are of two types: primary Data and secondary Data. Collection of primary data first
time by researcher and his associates are done on the basis of fieldwork. Those data come under the
secondary data that are collected by some other researcher, any institute or group. Whenever any
researcher uses the data collected by any other researcher then for him the data collected by others
are secondary data because he himself or his associates has not collected the data for the first time.
Now here we will elaborately discuss Primary and Secondary Data.

1. primary Data

All those information, collected material and figures that are collected by researcher himself or with
the help of his associates for his research are called Primary Data. these data are basically collected
on the basis of field work. robertson and rite wrote “those data are primary that are collected for the
purpose of solving a particular research-problem “. it is clear that figures, information and materials
collected in relation to institute or research -problem, are called Primary Data.

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