Main forms of data collection responses

The responses of subjects may be characterized as acts. In action or silence on the part of the subject may also constitute in important response often more revealing than many responses which can be called acts. Acts in this sense may be classified into (1) Verbal in words, (2) Non-verbal. The verbal acts may be subdivided into oral and written. Verbal acts are acts where verbal symbols are used to communicate. The non-verbal acts are bowing (bending to the head or body). Clapping (strike hands together), shrugging (drawing up of the shoulders) etc. The oral -verbal acts consist of the subject replying to the stimulus by the word of mouth. The other kinds of verbal acts consist of writing the response/replies to the stimulus. If we cross the three kinds of manifest (show clearly) acts with three setting of data collection, we get a table of nine boxes. This breakdown table is given below:

Main forms of data collection responses

Sr. No. 1 2 3 Settings Informal settings Systematic unstructured settings Formal structure settings Non-Verbal Participant observation Oral-Verbal Written Verbal Letters, articles, biographies Questionnaire openended Questionnaire structured Conversations, use of informants Systematic Interviews observation Unstructured Experimental Interviews observation structured

Methods Of Data Collection: The two main sources of data collection in social science research come from the inner world of library and outside world of living people. We may label these two sources simply under the general rubric of documentary or paper sources. We may consider historical records, diaries, biographies and statistical records. When we turn to considered people as a sources of social science data, we identify various forms of observation but more particularly and primarily the interview an questionnaire as the techniques for collection of data from this sources. Meaning Of Document: A document is anything in written that contains matter o sociological importance. In case of social research it has been used in widest connotation and includes such written evidence a life history, diaries, letters, officials and unofficial records, proceeding of parliaments, committees, courts, societies etc. business and legal papers and act or constitution official statistics- report of surveys, newspapers reports, editorials, speeches, pamphlets etc. A document may be published or unpublished.

Classification Of Documents: For the convenience of the study they have been classified under the following two heads : (a) personal documents, (b) public documents. Personal documents: These documents are recorded by the individuals. An individual may record his views and thoughts about various problems. Kinds of personal documents: Personal documents may be categories or divided under following heads for the convenience of the study (1) Life History, (2) Diary, (3) Letters and (4) Memories. (1) Life History: Life history, generally speaking contains all kinds of biographical material, from the point of view of personal documents only a autobiography which contains description and view about social and personal events is a life history. Since, it contains the views of the author bout social phenomenon it is of interest to the students of sociology and social research. It may be further classified under the following three subheads : (a) Spontaneous autobiography, (b) Voluntary autobiography or self record, (c) Complied life history. (2) Diary/Diaries: Diaries are the most important source of knowing the life history of a person, if they have been written continuously over long periods. Many people keep diaries in which they record the daily events of their life and their feelings and reactions relating to those events. (3) Letters: Letters also provided useful and reliable material on many social problems. They throw light up on more intimate aspects of an event and clarify the stand taken by a person regarding it. They are helpful in giving an idea of the attitudes of a person and the trend of his mind. The validity of letters is beyond all doubts and they should be accepted as prima facie proof of the altitude of the writer. In such social problems, as love, marriage or divorce the letters can supply much relevant information. (4) Memories: Some people write memories o their travels, important events of their life and other significant phenomenon that they come across. These memories provide useful material in the study of many a social phenomenon. Memories of travelers have provided us with useful information regarding the languages, social customs, religious faiths, culture and many other social aspects of the people they visited.