Classification of Data, Collection & Presentation of Data

Differentiation between Data Collection Techniques and Data Collection Tools

To avoid confusion in the use of terms, the following table points out the distinction between techniques and tools applied in data collection.

 

 

Data collection Techniques	Data Collection Tools
Using available information Observing Interviewing Administering written questionnaires Organizing Focus Group Discussions Using projective techniques	Checklist, data, compilation form Eyes and ears, pen and paper, watch, tape or video recorder etc. Interview schedule, checklist, questionnaire, Tape recorder Questionnaire Discussion, guide, tape recorder Visual aids, sentence completion forms, Hypothetical cases.

 

 

Classification of Data

Geographical Data

 Chronological Data

Qualitative / Categorical Data

It is descriptive data.

Example- She can run fast, He is thin.

 

 

Qualitative Data can be divided into two parts as well and they are, 

Nominal Data - is the simplest data type. It classifies data purely by labelling or naming values e.g. measuring marital status, hair, or eye color. It has no hierarchy to it.

Ordinal Data- a type of data that follows a natural order.  It classifies data while introducing an order, or ranking. For instance, measuring economic status using the hierarchy: ‘wealthy’, ‘middle income’ or ‘poor.’ However, there is no clearly defined interval between these categories.

 

Quantitative/ Numerical Data

It is numerical information.

Example- An Octopus is an Eight-legged creature.

Quantitative data can be divided into two parts as well and they are, 

Discrete data- has a particular fixed value. It can be counted

Examples of discrete data:

○ Number of students in a specific grade

○ Number of employees in a department

○ Number of products in a store

 

Continuous data- is not fixed but has a range of data. It can be measured.

Examples of Continuous data:

○ Height or weight of people of a particular age

○ Daily temperature in a city

○ Time needed to complete a specific task

 

Difference between Quantitative & Qualitative data

Quantitative Data:	Qualitative Data:
This is numerical information that can be counted or measured. You can quantify or give a numerical value to the information.	This is non-numerical information that describes the characteristics or qualities of something.
Some of the ways you can collect quantitative data are through experiments, polls, interviews, surveys, or questionnaires.	Some of the ways you can collect qualitative data are through questionnaires, surveys, interviews, or observations.

Representation of Data

Presentation of Data can take two basic forms

• Statistical Table - Example: Frequency Distribution Table
• Statistical Graph & Chart

There are different ways to represent data such as through graphs, charts or tables. The general representation of statistical data is given below

• Bar Graph
• Pie Chart
• Line Graph
• Pictograph
•  Histogram