Coomon Questions in Statistics
Coomon Questions in Statistics
2. Secondary data: is a data form of data collection which takes places at a desk by reading
through a documents or records which gives second hand data.
Data Relevance: Primary data is collected directly from the source, so it is highly
relevant to your research objectives.
Data Quality: Researchers have more control over the data collection process, which can
lead to higher data quality and accuracy
Originality: Primary data is original and specific to your research, which means you are
not relying on outdated or potentially biased data sources.
Cost and Time-Consuming: Collecting primary data can be expensive and time-
consuming. It often involves developing research tools, recruiting participants, and
conducting data collection, which can require significant resources.
Resource Intensive: Primary data collection may require access to specialized
equipment, facilities, or expertise.
Potential Bias: Depending on the data collection method and researcher's approach,
primary data collection can introduce researcher bias or respondent bias. Researchers
must take care to minimize these biases and maintain objectivity.
Cost-Efficiency: Secondary data is often readily available and typically less expensive to
access compared to collecting primary data.
Time-Saving: Secondary data is preexisting, so researchers can save time that would
otherwise be spent on data collection.
Large Sample Sizes: Secondary data sources, such as government databases or industry
reports, often contain data from large populations or a wide geographic area, providing
researchers with a substantial and diverse dataset.
Data Quality: The quality and accuracy of secondary data can vary, and researchers may
have limited control over the data collection process. There is a risk of errors,
inconsistencies, or outdated information in the data.
Relevance and Specificity: Secondary data may not always precisely match the research
objectives or the context of the study, and researchers may need to adapt or generalize the
data to fit their needs. This can lead to a loss of specificity.
Lack of Customization: Researchers using secondary data are constrained by the data
that already exists. They may not be able to collect data on variables that are crucial to
their research, or the available data may not align perfectly with their research questions.
6. Data Cording: is a process by which all answers in a questionnaire are categorized/listed and
each category is a given an identification code. Code is a number representing a response or
answer to a question. Code sheet is used a guide during data entry code sheet have four columns
a) question description, b)variable or question name, c)answer codes and d)question number.
Data presentation is summarized data on tables or graphs.
7. Mention features of good table?
Statistics plays a crucial role in helping researchers during data collection in several ways:
Sampling techniques: Statistics helps researchers determine the appropriate sampling methods
to use when collecting data. They can choose between random sampling, stratified sampling, or
other techniques to ensure that the sample accurately represents the population of interest. This
ensures that the collected data is not biased and is generalizable.
Sample size determination: Statistical techniques, such as power analysis, help researchers
calculate the required sample size for their study. This ensures that the sample is large enough to
detect meaningful effects or relationships within the data.
Data collection design: Statistics helps researchers design their data collection instruments and
methods. They can create surveys, questionnaires, or experiments that are statistically valid and
reliable, which increases the quality of the data collected.
Data quality control: Statistical methods can be used to monitor and improve data quality
during the data collection process. Researchers can implement checks and validations to identify
and correct errors, outliers, or inconsistencies in real-time.
Randomization: Randomization techniques are often used in experiments and surveys to reduce
the impact of confounding variables. Randomly assigning participants to different treatment
groups or randomizing the order of survey questions helps control for potential sources of bias.
Data interpretation: Even during data collection, researchers may employ preliminary
statistical analyses to gain insights into the data. Descriptive statistics, for example, can provide
initial summaries of data trends and patterns.
Data tracking and management: Researchers use statistical software and data management
techniques to organize, store, and track data efficiently, ensuring that data is accessible and
manageable throughout the data collection process.
Questionnaire validation: Researchers often employ statistical techniques like factor analysis
and reliability analysis to assess the validity and reliability of questionnaires and surveys before
using them in data collection.
Ethical considerations: Statistics can help researchers address ethical concerns during data
collection, such as protecting participants' privacy and ensuring informed consent procedures
comply with ethical standards and regulations.
Data collection efficiency: By using statistics, researchers can optimize their data collection
processes to save time and resources, ultimately improving the efficiency of the research project.