How to Cleverly Download Data

Ans 4 In every research work, it is essential to collect factual material or data unknown or untapped so far. It can be obtained from many sources, direct or indirect. It is necessary to adopt a systematic procedure to collect essential data so that the appropriate data relevant in research to be collected in quantity and quality and it should also be reliable and valid. For each and every type of research we need certain instruments to gather new facts or to explore new fields. The instruments thus employed as means for collecting data are called tools. Tools for data collection 1. In Doctrinal Research 2. In Empirical Research Tools and Techniques of Data Collection in Doctrinal Research – Traditional approach for legal research was centric to doctrinal method; even today doctrinal method is first choice of the researchers in law schools. The domain of doctrinal research mostly contain following technique in data collection as:1. Library Research - Legal theories, principles and position of law may be easily referred by sitting in the library. Contents of the documents are self sufficient to be shown as good evidence of what law is on any issue of law and society, explanations, and object of law can be referred by bare reading of texts. That is why library research is most convenient way of data collection. Sources of data available within library are - Books, Journals, Reporters, Magazines, News Papers, Juristic work, Reports of (Seminar, conferences, symposiums, legislative, judicial and administrative proceedings), literature containing factual & philosophical information. Articles, Research papers, Thesis and Dissertations, Reports of Commissions, Court judgments and Case commentaries etc. 2. Participation – Participation technique is another common pattern of data collection in doctrinal as well as in empirical researches. Doctrinal studies can be performed by using either Library, participation or both techniques. The objective of Doctrinalparticipative approach is to obtain knowledge by participating in any activity where relevant information may be obtained from verbal statements and presentations made by the persons credible for such information as expert, experienced or authoritative, not from the printing or web materials. It may be obtained by participations in Lectures, Seminars, Conferences, and Proceedings of (Academic, Administrative, Judicial and Legislative) are some common sources of data collection. Here the objective of participation for doctrinal research is only to receive information given by credible person relevant to study not to observe and analyse the source of information, like observation of source under empirical method. Participation for data collection may be face to face or by modern means of technology i.e., video conferencing, Television, means of mass media and other means of communications. Tools and Techniques for Data Collection in Empirical ResearchTechniques used in empirical legal researches are the same as used in other social science streams. Various techniques of data collection exist in social science researches with their specific tools. The following are the important techniques used in empirical researchI. II. III. IV. V. VI. Observation Interview Questionnaire Case Study Survey Scaling 1. Observation: Observation method of data collection deals with the recording of behaviour of the respondents or sampling units. In this technique researcher has to observe the required phenomenon by himself. By involving himself, researcher will be able to keep his eye on the entire activity for the accurate data and certain direct inferences. Observation provides an opportunity for empirical study that is first hands collection of facts and there is scientific precision in this method as facts and related information is collected in a natural situation. From observation, researcher can very well relate cause and effect relationship. The purpose of observation technique is to study the existing phenomenon of human behaviour. Though, to control human behaviour is not easy, yet it is studied simply by control and uncontrolled observation. In uncontrolled observation, researcher, studies phenomenon without any interference in natural occurrence of phenomenon. Observation technique can be classified on the basis of role of researcher’s participation in the phenomenon of observation as: 1. Participant Observation: Here researcher himself being actively remains associated with other members of the group and observes behaviour and activities of the group of study. 2. Quasi participant Observation: In this kind of observation researcher does not remains all present to study group activities. He has to believe on his fellow researchers of the phenomenon when he is not present. In quasi participant observations the researcher takes parts in festivals, sports, in group fooding etc. 3. Non participant Observation: In this observation though the researcher remains present with observe persons but he studies their activities and behaviour as a neutral person. He does not take part himself in the group. He remains limited to the causes of observation, environment, population or social life of the observed group. Advantages of the Observation Method Directness The main advantage of observation is its directness. We can collect data at the time they occur. The observer does not have to ask people about their behaviour and reports from others. He or she can simply watch as individuals act and speak. While the survey respondents may have a hazy or lapse memory about events that occurred in the distant past, the observer is studying events as they occur. Natural environment Whereas other data collection techniques introduce artificiality into the research environment, data collected in an observation study describe the observed phenomena as they occur in their natural settings. Observation is neither as restrictive nor as artificial as either the survey or the experiment. Longitudinal analysis Since the observation is possible to be conducted in a natural setting, the observer can conduct his or her study over a much longer period than with either the survey or experiment. Non-verbal behaviour Observation is decidedly superior to survey research, experimentation, or document study for collecting data on nonverbal behaviour. Some studies focus on individuals who are unable to give verbal reports or to articulate themselves meaningfully. For these subjects, the observational method is indispensable. These include children, crippled, and mentally and physically handicraft people. Disadvantages of the Observation Method: Lack of control Despite the advantage as achieved from the natural environment, the observation study, however, has little control over extraneous variables that may affect the data. The presence of a stranger (the observer) and the error involved in human observation and the recording of data, which may remain out of control of the observer, are likely to bias the observations to a great extent. Difficulties in quantification Measurement in observational studies generally takes the form of observer’s un-quantified perceptions rather than the quantitative measures often used in the survey and experimental studies. Smallness in sample size Because observational studies are generally conducted in-depth, with data that are often subjective and difficult to quantify, the sample size is usually kept at a minimum. Also, the in-depth nature of the observation studies generally requires that they are conducted over an extended period, then the survey method or experiments. This feature tends to limit the size of the sample. No opportunity to learn past In an observational study, there is no way to know the past. It is also difficult to gather information on such topics as intentions, opinions, attitudes, or preferences. This technique can generate either quantitative or qualitative data but tends to be used more for small-scale exploratory studies than for large-scale quantitative studies. This is because it usually requires:    Relatively highly skilled observers and analysts Prolonged periods of observation High cost per unit of observation. 2. Interview: Interview is commonly accepted technique of data collection where researcher enters into face-to-face interaction with any person or group for the purpose of seeking certain information as to the facts, idea or observation relevant to his research. Components of the interview are the researcher, the interviewer, interviewee and the interview environment. Where Researcher or any other person in his behalf enter in the role of interviewer and other person whose opinion, behaviour and responses are observed logically for research objectives is called interview. Expected research data is synthesized from internal views of another person. The purpose of the interview is to probe the ideas of the interviewees about the phenomenon of interest. Even terms abstractly related to the search are helpful, in that they may pull up documents that would otherwise not be found. 3. Questionnaire: Questionnaire is a most popular method of data collection for empirical legal research. It is a physical or electronic document consists of predetermined set of questions printed, typed or digitalized distributed sent to various persons for their response on such questions. Questionnaire is useful where observation and interview is not possible and in the opinion of researcher it would be just to collect information for objective and purposive satisfaction of research. He may design certain questions in the light of objectives, hypothesis and indicators of research. On each indicator there must be Question/s is/are designed and their language should be free from ambiguity, easy to understand and grammatically correct. Questionnaires may be supplied to respondents personally, by mail or internet. It works as mean and method both. Information from distant places can be easily accessed by the researcher economically 4. Case Study: Case study is an in-depth study of any unit from the beginning to end. Any person, family, institution, group, cast, community or nation may be the unit for the purpose of study. By this study those qualities of unit are focused and analysed which makes it distinct from other and special subject matter of study in which researcher is interested to know. It is a qualitative research method where all facts and information relating to such unit from the origin to last are collected by the researcher and all such conditions of life and their relations, and impact on unit is focused which makes it special. 5. Survey: Survey method is commonly used in social science and socio-legal researches. Before planning any policy or implementing schemes surveys may be conducted to know the experience, observation and opinion of peoples relating to subject. The term ‘Survey’ constitutes with two terms as ‘Sur’ or ‘Sor’ which means ‘Over’ and ‘veeir’ or ‘vor’ which means to see. It means ‘to see over’ or ‘to look over,’ H.N. Morse defines social survey as “The social survey is a method of analysis in scientific and orderly form and for defined purposes of a given social situation or problem or population” Survey is a process of collecting quantity of facts in systematic and organized manner to report any social problem or status of facts in certain area of society. Where the object of study is to search the information through real public experience, their opinion or feelings as to any of social importance. 6. Scaling: Scaling means to measure something by using any unit of measurement. Social attributes, personality treats and human behaviour are non measurable facts. Measurements are acceptable only in quantitative researches where the measurable facts are variables. Variables are those facts whose characteristics may vary & such variations are measurable. Facts studied in qualitative research are called “Non variables”. Characteristics of nonvariables is non measurable. Qualities cannot be measured i.e., honesty, dishonesty, integrity, love and enmity etc. Scaling as a technique introduced by the social science researchers by which they have tried to measure social behaviour and attributes of man by converting ‘qualitative facts’ into ‘quantitative facts’. It is a method of converting series of qualitative facts into quantitative facts and attributes are turned into variables. Working knowledge of statistics is necessary for analysing responses obtained by scaling method.