Passage Based Questions: Collection of Data
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 information that have already been collected and processed by another agency or researcher before being used by the current user.
- They differ from primary data because primary data are gathered and processed for the first time by the researcher who needs them; secondary data are reused material and therefore are secondary to everyone except the original collector.
Q2: What are the potential sources of secondary data mentioned in the passage?
Ans:
- Secondary data may be obtained from published sources such as government reports, official documents, newspapers and books by economists, as well as from other sources like websites.
- These sources comprise material that has already been documented and made available for reference, research or further analysis.
Q3: What are the advantages of using secondary data in research or analysis, as highlighted in the passage?
Ans:
- Use of secondary data saves both time and cost because researchers do not need to collect and process information afresh.
- Relying on existing data avoids duplication of effort and is a convenient and efficient way to obtain information for similar studies or initial analysis.
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 provide respondents with predetermined response options rather than asking for a free-form answer.
- They are categorized as two-way questions when only two answers are possible (for example, 'yes' or 'no') and as multiple choice questions when more than two answer options are offered.
Q2: What are the advantages of using closed-ended questions in surveys or research?
Ans:
- Closed-ended questions are easy to administer, simple to score and straightforward to codify for statistical analysis.
- They standardise responses across respondents, which makes comparison, tabulation and quantitative analysis faster and more reliable.
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 possible responses (such as 'yes' or 'no'), while a multiple choice question presents several alternative answers from which respondents select one or more.
- Two-way questions are appropriate for simple, binary issues; multiple choice questions suit situations where several distinct options exist and a more detailed or nuanced response is required.
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 preferred because they allow direct face-to-face contact between the interviewer and the respondent, improving rapport and trust.
- The interviewer can explain the purpose of the study, answer queries and probe further into responses that require more detail, resulting in richer information.
Q2: What advantages do personal interviews offer in terms of ensuring clarity and reducing potential issues in communication?
Ans:
- Personal interviews reduce the risk of misinterpretation and misunderstanding since the interviewer can clarify ambiguous questions or answers on the spot.
- They permit observation of non-verbal cues and reactions, which supply supplementary information useful for interpreting responses.
Q3: How do personal interviews contribute to the overall quality of data collection and the research process?
Ans:
- Personal interviews improve data quality by enabling probing, clarification and verification of responses, which leads to more accurate and complete information.
- They help the researcher understand respondent perspectives in greater depth, producing a more comprehensive dataset for 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 selected individual with instructions and 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 method is relatively inexpensive, can reach people in remote or hard-to-reach areas, and removes the need for face-to-face contact.
- It prevents interviewer influence on responses and gives respondents time to consider their answers, often improving thoughtfulness and accuracy.
Q3: Why is the absence of interviewer influence considered a benefit of collecting data by mail?
Ans:
- Without an interviewer present, respondents are less likely to be swayed by the interviewer's tone or presence, so answers tend to reflect their true views.
- This increases the objectivity of responses and helps ensure that the survey results reflect respondents' independent opinions.
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 idea of the main survey so that researchers can identify potential problems early.
Q2: How does a pilot survey assist in the development of a questionnaire for the main survey?
Ans:
- A pilot survey pre-tests the questionnaire to reveal shortcomings or unclear questions and helps assess whether the questions and instructions are suitable for respondents.
- This process permits revision of questions and instructions before the full survey, improving clarity and relevance.
Q3: Besides questionnaire assessment, what other aspects of a survey does a pilot survey help evaluate?
Ans:
- A pilot survey evaluates the performance of enumerators, estimates the likely cost and time required for the full survey and helps refine logistical arrangements to improve the efficiency of the main study.
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, or Method of Complete Enumeration, is a survey that attempts to include every element of the population under study rather than a subset.
Q2: How is a Census conducted in India, and what kind of information does it aim to collect?
Ans:
- In India, a Census is carried out by conducting house-to-house enquiries that cover all households in both rural and urban areas.
- The Census collects demographic information such as birth and death rates, literacy levels, employment, life expectancy, and the size and composition of the population.
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; the most recent Census mentioned here 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 initial step is to identify the population, meaning all individuals or items that possess the characteristics relevant to the survey's objective.
Q2: What is the alternative to surveying the entire population, and when might it be chosen?
Ans:
- If it is not feasible to study the entire population, the researcher may choose a Representative Sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger population.
- This approach is chosen when resources, time or access prevent a full population survey but reliable estimates are still required.
Q3: What role does the identification of the population play in the selection of a sample?
Ans:
- Identifying the population is crucial because it defines who should be included in the sampling frame and determines whether a full enumeration or a representative sample is appropriate.
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 in which every individual or unit in the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample.
- The governing principle is equality of selection probability for all units in the sampling frame so that the sample is unbiased and representative.
Q2: What is another term for random sampling, and what is its relevance to the selection process?
Ans:
- Random sampling is also called the lottery method, which emphasises that selection is by chance rather than by judgment.
- This method ensures impartial selection, reducing systematic bias in the sample.
Q3: How has technology impacted the process of selecting random samples in modern times?
Ans:
- Computer programmes are now commonly used to select random samples, making the process faster, more accurate and less prone to human error.
- Such programmes can generate truly random selections from a sampling frame, preserving the equal-chance principle.
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 key 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 describes the centre or typical value of a dataset and can be measured by the mean, median or mode.
- The arithmetic mean gives the average, the median gives the middle value, and the mode gives the most frequent value.
Q3: What is Dispersion, and how can it be quantified in a population of numerical values?
Ans:
- Dispersion indicates how spread out the values in a dataset are around the central value.
- It can be measured using statistics such as the standard deviation, mean deviation and range, which quantify variability and spread.
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 primary purpose of the National Sample Survey is to conduct nationwide surveys on socio-economic issues on behalf of the Government of India.
Q2: How does the NSS release the data it collects, and through what medium is the information made available to the public?
Ans:
- The NSS releases its collected data through published reports and its quarterly journal Sarvekshana, which make the findings available to researchers and policymakers.
Q3: What are some of the specific areas or topics for which the NSS provides periodic estimates through its surveys?
Ans:
- The NSS provides periodic estimates on areas such as literacy, school enrolment and use of educational services, employment and unemployment, manufacturing and service enterprises, morbidity, maternity and child care, and the utilisation of the public distribution system.
