Number of Basic Data Collection Methods

How many basic methods of collecting data are there?

Correct Answer Explanation

There are three basic ways of collecting data: (i) Personal Interviews, (ii) Mailing (Questionnaire) Surveys, and (iii) Telephone Interviews.

Key Points:

• Personal Interviews: Face-to-face, highest response rate, most expensive.
• Mailing Questionnaire: Least expensive, can reach remote areas, low response rate.
• Telephone Interviews: Relatively low cost, faster than personal interviews, limited use.
• Online surveys and SMS surveys are modern additions to mailing methods.

Why Other Options Are Wrong

• A, C, D: These are incorrect counts. The standard classification recognises exactly three basic modes.