Set clear objectives & expectations for data collection process
Share surveys across various platforms for efficient data collection
Gain inestimable insights and new perspectives from the collected data
Set up a course of action to improve business & boost growth
Data Collection is the systematic approach of assembling data from various sources and measuring information to get a comprehensive view of the area under study. Data Collection helps to analyze data at the granular level, thereby enabling one to evaluate outcomes, discover crucial insights and predict future patterns and trends. Gathering data can be done via methods like online surveys, observation, interviews and so on. Data collection tools simplify the task of collecting information, analyzing it, and providing rich insights. An organization can utilize these insights to better the decision-making process, outline new strategies, and calibrate results.
You can classify data into two broad categories:
Primary Data is the kind of data that the researcher collects directly from the source and helps to get reliable, first-hand information. The researcher employs different methodologies like questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and so on to collect this data. It can be both quantitative or qualitative. Primary data is a result of the researcher’s efforts to gather information regarding a specific objective. Secondary data, on the other hand, refers to information collected by the researcher from another source. Examples of secondary data include publications, journals, records, research conducted by other people, etc. The nature of secondary data may not be specific to the researcher’s needs. The data collection time is comparatively less while the accuracy of the data may be in question in this case.
Data changes the way we perceive things. Also, a business acting without the backup of data is just like a voyager without a map. Here are proven data collection methodologies that can make your data collection process a cakewalk.
This data collection methodology involves observing the behavior of the group the data is collected from. Here, observation is the critical parameter that is used to gauge and receive data. There are different types of observation methods:
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This data collection method involves having direct interaction with the respondents and collecting information. The different types of interviews include:
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A survey questionnaire is sent to the concerned respondents who give answers to each question and submits it. A good questionnaire must have the right questions, placed in a logical sequence, short & relevant, and having an inviting appearance. Online survey software has changed the very fundamentals of the questionnaire method of data collection. Unlike traditional methods like postal questionnaires and paper surveys, online surveys capture data real-time instantly.
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Here are five tips to ensure that your data collection endeavor is a massive success.
When you wish to get answers for your questions from respondents, all you need to do is ask them! Craft engaging surveys that fetch you high response rates and quality responses. Survey fatigue and abandonment are the hurdles one must cross during data collection. The best way to tackle these issues is by turning surveys into conversations. Would you mind a few questions for a friend? No isn’t it. That’s what your surveys must be.
What you ask in your survey is equally important as the way you ask. The golden rule one while drafting questionnaires for data collection is to ensure that you pick the right questions that must go in your survey. Be as clear & precise as you can and avoid confusing, vague, and leading questions. If you wish to get honest responses, be neutral in the way you ask as well. Instead of “Wouldn’t it be nice if we met once a month?”, ask “What’s your opinion on meeting once in a month.”
In simple term, the conditional logic branching feature, offered by data collection software, shifts the flow of control of the surveys from one point to another based on the previous answers given by respondents. For example, if the respondent is a vegetarian, all the questions pertaining to the non-vegetarian diet will be hidden. Pose only what’s relevant to your audience- skip the rest. This will help to reduce survey abandonment drastically.
Make it possible for your respondents to attend your surveys from multiple channels like email surveys, social media, web links, SMS option, etc. In this manner, your audience will have the flexibility to pick the channel of their choice and take the survey. This will reflect in higher completion numbers. Therefore, opt for data collection tools that offer multiple share options and multi-device capability. The later helps your surveys be mobile-responsive!
Once you collect the data, the next step is to refine it to get valuable insights from it. A data collection platform is efficient in doing this job for you. The tool helps you draft questionnaires, send it to target audience, collect data, and slice & dice it. Once you polish the raw data into distilled information, you can uncover a whole new dimension of perspectives and insights. This drives to make better decisions, spot patterns & trends, and know your customers.
How does data collection turn thing around for your business? Here are the top 3 reasons why data collection must be an integral part of any business, across any sphere.
With data collection, it is possible to make decisions that are better-informed and more concrete. According to studies, a decision based on data and not on instincts has about 80% chance of becoming a success. By setting up and executing a stable data collection process, a business can get new ideas and discover what’s amiss to make well-informed decisions.
Having a great data collection system in place goes a long way in helping business in a 360-degree manner. Data collection enables business leaders to have all the information they need about their business- be it about their customers, employees, target market or competitors. Knowledge about these factors helps them focus on the areas which require urgent attention thereby allocating resources and time efficiently. Ill-advised resource allocation can be a disaster for any business.
When your business takes decisions that are spot-on and resource allocation that is impeccable, what you can expect in return is attractive ROI. When the right investments are made, the problems identified & rectification measures are taken, you can see your business sailing in the right direction.
Wish to grab a data collection platform that makes the process of data collection a simple walk in the park? Read more to know about SurveySparrow- the best data collection tool you could lay your hands on.
SurveySparrow’s data collection tool offers not just one, but two interfaces. You can choose whether your end-user view must be chat-like surveys or conversational forms! Turn surveys from interrogations into conversations with SurveySparrow and engage with your audience better.
SurveySparrow’s data collection software comes with a mixed bag of question types that range from simple opinion scale, star rating, MCQ to complex ones like matrix type and rank order. The questions that go into your questionnaires also determine the quality of responses you receive.
Who said surveys make you hit the snooze button? With the right data collection platform like SurveySparrow, create stellar questionnaires using survey themes we have curated for you. Pick one of our default themes, or let your imagination wild and create one of your own!
SurveySparrow offers a host of survey share options to ensure your surveys receive maximum reach and are ever accessible to your audience. Some of the sharing platform that SureySparrow’s data collection tool supports are:
SurveySparrow’s data collection software stands by your side not just for drafting surveys, sharing it, but analyzing the collected data as well. The rich dashboard is designed to furnish detailed reports that help you make better decisions for your business.
Resource allocation is significant for any business. The first step towards it is by automating all redundant, routine tasks. With SurveySparrow’s recurring survey feature, this is precisely what we want! Once you set when and how frequently must your surveys be sent, the data collection tool takes things from there. Sit back & relax!
Pondering about the right questions that must go into your surveys? Well, we have made that task more comfortable for you. With our vast collection of the most popular templates, you can quickly pick the one of your requirement and get started instantly- be it market research, customer satisfaction, patient feedback or employee pulse surveys!
Data collection platforms are the silos which continuously gives valuable information to help your business. Get started with your data collection in no time with SurveySparrow.
Happy Data Collection!
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