Passage Based Questions: Collection of Data | Economics Class 11 - Commerce PDF Download

Passage - 1

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

If the data have been collected and processed (scrutinised and tabulated) by some other agency, they are called Secondary Data. They can be obtained either from published sources such as government reports, documents, newspapers, books written by economists or from any other source, for example, a website. Thus, the data are primary to the source that collects and processes them for the first time and secondary for all sources that later use such data. Use of secondary data saves time and cost. For example, after collecting the data on the popularity of the filmstar among students, you publish a report. If somebody uses the data collected by you for a similar study, it becomes secondary data.

Q1: How are secondary data defined, and what distinguishes them from primary data?
Ans:

• Secondary data are data that have been collected and processed by an external agency or source after the initial collection.
• They differ from primary data, which are collected and processed for the first time by the source directly involved in the research.

Q2: What are the potential sources of secondary data mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• Secondary data can be obtained from various published sources, including government reports, documents, newspapers, books authored by economists, or any other source like websites.
• They are data that have already been documented and made available for reference or further analysis.

Q3: What are the advantages of using secondary data in research or analysis, as highlighted in the passage?
Ans: 

• Using secondary data saves both time and cost for researchers.
• Researchers can avoid duplicating the data collection process by relying on existing data sources, making it a convenient and efficient way to access information for similar studies or analyses.

Passage - 2

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

Closed-ended or structured questions can either be a two-way question or a multiple choice question. When there are only two possible answers, ‘yes’ or ‘no’, it is called a two way question. When there is a possibility of more than two options of answers, multiple choice questions are more appropriate. Closed-ended questions are easy to use, score and to codify for analysis, because all respondents can choose from the given options.

Q1: What are closed-ended or structured questions, and how can they be categorized based on the number of possible answers?
Ans:

• Closed-ended or structured questions are a type of survey question with predetermined response options.
• They can be categorized into two-way questions, which offer only two possible answers (e.g., 'yes' or 'no'), and multiple choice questions, which provide more than two answer options.

Q2: What are the advantages of using closed-ended questions in surveys or research?
Ans:

• Closed-ended questions are easy to use, score, and analyze.
• They provide predetermined response options, simplifying the data collection and analysis process, and allowing all respondents to choose from the provided answer choices.

Q3: How is a two-way question different from a multiple choice question, and when might each type be more appropriate?
Ans: 

• A two-way question offers only two answer options (e.g., 'yes' or 'no'), while a multiple choice question presents more than two answer choices.
• Two-way questions are suitable when there are only two possible responses, while multiple choice questions are more appropriate when there are multiple potential answers or options available for respondents to choose from.

Passage - 3

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

Personal interviews are preferred due to various reasons. Personal contact is made between the respondent and the interviewer. The interviewer has the opportunity of explaining the study and answering the queries of respondents. The interviewer can request the respondent to expand on answers that are particularly important. Misinterpretation and misunderstanding can be avoided. Watching the reactions of respondents can provide supplementary information. 

Q1: Why are personal interviews often preferred in research, according to the passage?
Ans:

• Personal interviews are favored due to the direct interaction they facilitate between the respondent and the interviewer.
• They allow the interviewer to explain the study, address respondent queries, and request elaboration on crucial responses, enhancing the quality of data collection.

Q2: What advantages do personal interviews offer in terms of ensuring clarity and reducing potential issues in communication?
Ans:

• Personal interviews help avoid misinterpretation and misunderstanding by providing a direct channel for clarifying information between the interviewer and the respondent.
• They enable the interviewer to watch the respondent's reactions, offering valuable supplementary insights.

Q3: How do personal interviews contribute to the overall quality of data collection and the research process?
Ans:

• Personal interviews enhance data collection by promoting clearer communication and reducing the risk of misinterpretation.
• They allow for a deeper understanding of respondent perspectives, providing a more comprehensive and accurate dataset for research analysis.

Passage - 4

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

When the data in a survey are collected by mail, the questionnaire is sent to each individual by mail with a request to complete and return it by a given date. The advantages of this method are that, it is less expensive. It allows the researcher to have access to people in remote areas too, who might be difficult to reach in person or by telephone. It does not allow influencing of the respondents by the interviewer. It also permits the respondents to take sufficient time to give thoughtful answers to the questions.

Q1: What is the method of collecting data by mail in a survey, as described in the passage?
Ans:

• Data collection by mail involves sending a questionnaire to each individual by mail, along with a request to complete and return it by a specified date.

Q2: What are the advantages associated with collecting survey data by mail?
Ans:

• The advantages include cost-effectiveness, accessibility to people in remote areas, reduced potential for interviewer influence, and the provision of ample time for respondents to provide thoughtful answers to the questions.

Q3: Why is the absence of interviewer influence considered a benefit of collecting data by mail?
Ans:

• Data collection by mail eliminates the direct influence of an interviewer, ensuring that respondents' responses are not swayed by external factors.
• This enhances the objectivity and integrity of the survey results, as respondents provide answers without external pressures or biases.

Passage - 5

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

The pilot survey helps in providing a preliminary idea about the survey. It helps in pre-testing of the questionnaire, so as to know the shortcomings and drawbacks of the questions. Pilot survey also helps in assessing the suitability of questions, clarity of instructions, performance of enumerators and the cost and time involved in the actual survey.

Q1: What is the primary purpose of conducting a pilot survey, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• The primary purpose of a pilot survey is to provide a preliminary understanding of the main survey, helping researchers gain initial insights.

Q2: How does a pilot survey assist in the development of a questionnaire for the main survey?
Ans:

• A pilot survey is instrumental in pre-testing the questionnaire, revealing any shortcomings or drawbacks in the questions.
• It aids in assessing the suitability of questions, clarity of instructions, and the overall questionnaire's performance.

Q3: Besides questionnaire assessment, what other aspects of a survey does a pilot survey help evaluate?
Ans:

• A pilot survey assesses the performance of enumerators, determines the cost and time involved in the actual survey, and aids in refining various elements of the research process to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the main survey.

Passage - 6

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

A survey, which includes every element of the population, is known as Census or the Method of Complete Enumeration. If certain agencies are interested in studying the total population in India, they have to obtain information from all the households in rural and urban India. It is carried out every ten years. A house-to-house enquiry is carried out, covering all households in India. Demographic data on birth and death rates, literacy, employment, life expectancy, size and composition of population, etc., are collected and published by the Registrar General of India. The last Census of India was held in 2011.

Q1: What is a Census in the context of surveys, as described in the passage?
Ans:

• A Census, also known as the Method of Complete Enumeration, is a survey that includes every element of the population being studied.

Q2: How is a Census conducted in India, and what kind of information does it aim to collect?
Ans:

• In India, a Census involves a house-to-house inquiry, covering all households in rural and urban areas.
• The Census collects demographic data, including birth and death rates, literacy, employment, life expectancy, population size, and composition, among other information.

Q3: How frequently is the Census of India conducted, and who is responsible for collecting and publishing the gathered data?
Ans:

• The Census of India is conducted every ten years.
• The Registrar General of India is responsible for collecting and publishing the demographic data obtained through the Census. The most recent Census in India was held in 2011.

Passage - 7

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

A population is always all the individuals/items who possess certain characteristics (or a set of characteristics), according to the purpose of the survey. The first task in selecting a sample is to identify the population. Once the population is identified, the researcher selects a method of studying it. If the researcher finds that survey of the whole population is not possible, then he/ she may decide to select a Representative Sample.

Q1: What is the initial step in the process of selecting a sample for a survey, as explained in the passage?
Ans:

• The first step is to identify the population, which comprises all individuals or items possessing specific characteristics based on the survey's purpose.

Q2: What is the alternative to surveying the entire population, and when might it be chosen?
Ans:

• When it's not feasible to survey the entire population, researchers may opt to select a Representative Sample.
• A representative sample is chosen to accurately represent the characteristics and attributes of the larger population, making it a more practical and manageable approach.

Q3: What role does the identification of the population play in the selection of a sample?
Ans:

• Identifying the population is crucial as it lays the foundation for deciding whether a complete population survey or the selection of a representative sample is the appropriate method for studying the group of interest.

Passage - 8

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

In random sampling, every individual has an equal chance of being selected. In the above example, all 300 sampling units (also called sampling frame) of the population got an equal chance of being included in the sample of 30 units and hence the sample, such drawn, is a random sample. This is also called lottery method. Nowadays computer programmes are used to select random samples.

Q1: What is random sampling, and what key principle governs the selection of individuals in a random sample?
Ans:

• Random sampling is a method where every individual in a population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample.
• The key principle is that each sampling unit in the population, also known as the sampling frame, must have an equal opportunity to be included in the sample.

Q2: What is another term for random sampling, and what is its relevance to the selection process?
Ans:

• Random sampling is also referred to as the "lottery method."
• This name highlights the idea that the selection process is akin to a random drawing, where each sampling unit has an equal chance of being chosen.

Q3: How has technology impacted the process of selecting random samples in modern times?
Ans:

• Nowadays, computer programs are commonly used to select random samples, making the process more efficient and precise.
• These programs ensure that the principle of equal opportunity for each sampling unit is upheld, resulting in truly random samples.

Passage - 9

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

A population consisting of numerical values has two important characteristics which are of relevance here. First, Central Tendency which may be measured by the mean, the median or the mode. Second, Dispersion, which can be measured by caculating the “standard deviation”, ‘‘ mean deviation”, “ range”, etc. 

Q1: What are the two key characteristics of a population that are of relevance when dealing with numerical values?
Ans:

• The two important characteristics are Central Tendency and Dispersion.

Q2: How can Central Tendency be measured in a population, and what are some common measures of it?
Ans:

• Central Tendency can be measured by using the mean, the median, or the mode.
• Common measures of Central Tendency include the arithmetic mean, the middle value (median), and the most frequently occurring value (mode).

Q3: What is Dispersion, and how can it be quantified in a population of numerical values?
Ans:

• Dispersion refers to the degree of spread or variability in the data.
• Dispersion can be quantified by calculating statistics such as the standard deviation, mean deviation, range, and other measures that describe how data points are distributed around the central value.

Passage - 10

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

The NSS was established by the Government of India to conduct nationwide surveys on socio-economic issues. The NSS does continuous surveys in successive rounds. The data collected by NSS are released through reports and its quarterly journal Sarvekshana. NSS provides periodic estimates of literacy, school enrolment utilisation of educational services, employment, unemployment, manufacturing and service sector enterprises, morbidity, maternity, child care, utilisation of the public distribution system etc.

Q1: What is the primary purpose of the National Sample Survey (NSS) in India, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• The NSS was established by the Government of India to conduct nationwide surveys on various socio-economic issues.

Q2: How does the NSS release the data it collects, and through what medium is the information made available to the public?
Ans:

• The data collected by the NSS are released through reports and its quarterly journal, Sarvekshana.

Q3: What are some of the specific areas or topics for which the NSS provides periodic estimates through its surveys?
Ans:

• The NSS offers periodic estimates related to literacy, school enrollment, utilization of educational services, employment, unemployment, manufacturing and service sector enterprises, morbidity, maternity, child care, and the utilization of the public distribution system, among other socio-economic aspects.