Difference between revisions of "Primary Data Collection"
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Primary data is directly | Primary data is data directly collected by the researcher through surveys, interviews or experiments. Household surveys are the prototypical example of primary data. Researchers can personally direct primary data collection to ensure that data meets the standards of [[Monitoring Data Quality | quality]], availability, [[Power Calculations in Stata | statistical power]] and [[Sampling & Power Calculations | sampling]] required for a particular research question. With globally increasing access to survey tools and [[Software Tools | software]], field manuals, and specialized [[Survey Firm | survey firms]], primary data has become the dominant source for empirical inquiry in development economics. | ||
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== Read First == | |||
* The large majority of primary data comes from personal interviews. Depending on the research, these may take the form of household surveys, business (firm) surveys, or agricultural (farm) surveys. | |||
*Primary data collection typically requires a great deal of foresight, planning and coordination. Steps to preparing and conducting primary data collection follow. | |||
== Guidelines == | |||
The following are critical steps in [[Preparing for Field Data Collection | preparing for]] and conducting primary data collection: | |||
*[[Pre-Registration | Pre-register]] research and consider producing a [[Pre-Analysis Plan | pre-analysis plan]]. | |||
*Acquire [[Human Subjects Approval | human subjects approval]] and get set up with the proper tools for [[Encryption | encryption]] and [[De-identification | de-identification]]. | |||
*Compile the [[Survey Budget | survey budget]]. | |||
*Determine the sampling frame, calculate [[Sample Size | sample size]], conduct [[Sampling & Power Calculations | sampling and power calculations]], and [[Randomization in Stata|randomize]] treatment. | |||
*[[Questionnaire Design | Design]] and [[Questionnaire Translation | translate]] the survey instrument. | |||
*[[Questionnaire Programming|Program]] the instrument if data is being collected electronically via a [[Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI)]] or [[Computer-Assisted Field Entry (CAFE)]] survey. | |||
*Establish [[Survey Protocols | survey protocols]]. | |||
*[[Survey Pilot|Pilot]] the survey instrument – both the [[Piloting Survey Content | content]] and [[Piloting Survey Protocols | protocols]]. | |||
*[[Procuring a Survey Firm|Procure]] a [[Survey Firm | a survey firm]], taking care to prepare detailed [[Survey Firm TOR|Terms of Reference]]. | |||
*[[Enumerator Training | Train]] enumerators. | |||
*[[Monitoring Data Quality | Monitor]] data quality through [[Back Checks | backchecks]], high frequency checks, and other methods. | |||
*Maintained an organized data folder via <code>[[iefolder]]</code>. | |||
*[[Data Cleaning |Clean]] and [[Data Analysis | analyze]] data. | |||
*Should you wish, [[Publishing Data | make data available]] to other researchers to promote research transparency and [[Reproducible Research | reproducibility]]. | |||
== Back to Parent == | |||
== | This article is part of the topic [[Primary Data Collection]] | ||
== Additional Resources == | == Additional Resources == | ||
Revision as of 22:36, 29 April 2019
Primary data is data directly collected by the researcher through surveys, interviews or experiments. Household surveys are the prototypical example of primary data. Researchers can personally direct primary data collection to ensure that data meets the standards of quality, availability, statistical power and sampling required for a particular research question. With globally increasing access to survey tools and software, field manuals, and specialized survey firms, primary data has become the dominant source for empirical inquiry in development economics.
Read First
- The large majority of primary data comes from personal interviews. Depending on the research, these may take the form of household surveys, business (firm) surveys, or agricultural (farm) surveys.
- Primary data collection typically requires a great deal of foresight, planning and coordination. Steps to preparing and conducting primary data collection follow.
Guidelines
The following are critical steps in preparing for and conducting primary data collection:
- Pre-register research and consider producing a pre-analysis plan.
- Acquire human subjects approval and get set up with the proper tools for encryption and de-identification.
- Compile the survey budget.
- Determine the sampling frame, calculate sample size, conduct sampling and power calculations, and randomize treatment.
- Design and translate the survey instrument.
- Program the instrument if data is being collected electronically via a Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) or Computer-Assisted Field Entry (CAFE) survey.
- Establish survey protocols.
- Pilot the survey instrument – both the content and protocols.
- Procure a a survey firm, taking care to prepare detailed Terms of Reference.
- Train enumerators.
- Monitor data quality through backchecks, high frequency checks, and other methods.
- Maintained an organized data folder via
iefolder. - Clean and analyze data.
- Should you wish, make data available to other researchers to promote research transparency and reproducibility.
Back to Parent
This article is part of the topic Primary Data Collection
Additional Resources
Oxfam provides a detailed case study of how to use electronic data collection (SurveyCTO) combined with Stata code to improve data quality in the field.