Data Collection Methods

According to Taylor et al., (2015), the process of gathering data required for the research study is termed as data collection method. Data collection is defined as the collection of relevant information from a valid source to find out the problems in research. Mainly primary research includes field research and the data collected in primary research is always a new data or information. The different method of data collection has its own advantages and disadvantages. Data collection is the vital part of any research study, and the research issue can be solved by the organised and systematic analysis of the accumulated data. The data collection method has a vital role in determining the success of an investigation as it leads to finding out the objectives of the study.

The researcher can apply various methods for collecting data which is required for conducting the research. For investigating, the researcher can use both primary and secondary data collection methods (Bryman, 2015). From the observation of Saunders (2011), The primary data as Saunders (2011) contents are the original data gathered from the direct source of information. Moreover, the primary data is considered as the most reliable and valid data as it is assembled by conducting an interview, survey, discussions etc. (Bryman and Bell, 2015). In addition to this, the primary data collection method will assist the investigator to evaluate the private opinions of the individuals on the investigation topic. Secondary data is the data gathered from the existing studies, book, journals, online or offiine publications, articles, annual reports, websites, biogs etc. The researcher has employed both primary and secondary data collection method for the current research study.

According to Bryman and Bell (2015), the primary data collection method is defined as the data collected for the first time either through direct communication or observation. Likewise, the information collected through the primary data collection method can be obtained through many sources. Moreover, data collection method is noted as the essential part of the research study. Correspondingly, inaccurate data collection method will negatively impact the research study. According to Bryman (2015) data collection method main aims to find a solution for the research problem. Similarly, the data collection method is utilised to evaluate the outcomes by testing the hypothesis formulated. Primary data collection method and secondary data collection method are the two major classifications of data collection methods. The information related to the research study is present abundantly in books, articles and other published sources. The method of utilising the previous research studies

related to the topic is one of the most easily accessible, and these secondary data collection methods are helpful for covering a large portion on the subject. The secondary resources are mainly utilised for conducting an in-depth analysis of the topic. The researcher selects mostly previous articles and journals based on the year of publication and the depth of analyses (Saunders, 2011).

The quantitative method ts considered as the cheaper source of gathering information comparing the qualitative data collection method. A close-ended questionnaire is standard in this quantitative data collection method. The results gained through the quantitative data collection method exhibits a high level of standardisation, and due to this reason, the information collected can be easily analysed and compared. However, the qualitative data collection method does not involve any statistical pieces of evidence (Bryman and Bell, 2015).

The qualitative data collection method is associated with emotions and perspective of an individual on the research topic. According to Saunders (2011), qualitative data provides better information and understanding on the research issue by gathering more perspectives of individuals. The primary data collection method is more useful for gathering contemporary information related to the chosen topic. The secondary data collection technique requires precise selection criteria. The research area and the data requirements mainly decide the adequate method which should be selected for studying the topic intensely. Likewise, the nature of objectives and aim are the critical factor that determines which data collection method suits the research study.

The primary data is categorised into quantitative and qualitative data (Punch and Oancea, 2014). The qualitative data is accumulated by interviewing whereas the quantitative data is collected from the survey analysis. The evaluation and monitoring of research study are carried out with the help of qualitative and quantitative data. Apart from interviews qualitative data collection method also includes observations, conversations, field notes etc. Observation is an essential method of qualitative data collection which only includes participant's observations. Qualitative data collection is a purposeful method of collecting data whereas quantitative method is a random method of collection of data. Due to the limitation in accessing the interviewees as well as the less time and cost constraints, the researcher has not including qualitative data for the present study.

The qualitative data is comparatively high expensive data collection method. By implementing the survey method, the investigator could attain quantitative data from smaller samples. This would assist the investigator to identify the factors affecting the satisfaction levels of passengers. Moreover, by gathering the response from the passengers, it could be analysed that the various elements were contributing to the privatisation of London Overground. In addition to these, the researcher could assess the impact of privatisation on satisfaction levels of passengers of London Overground. Besides, from the opinion of passengers of London Overground, the researcher could provide recommendations for enhancing the satisfaction levels of passengers of London Overground.However, focusing on the effect of privatisation of British railways on the passenger satisfaction, the researcher has utilised the quantitative data as it assures the reliable information. Surveying the passengers of London railways was the primary data that was used to analyse in the current investigation. By utilising the primary data, the investigator was able to understand the effect of privatisation of British railways on the passenger satisfaction. Secondary data is a group of data which has published before.

To maximise the level of research reliability, secondary data plays an important role. When compared to primary data collection, secondary data is less expensive and low time­ consuming. In the present research study, the researcher utilised questionnaires for the survey. Questionnaires are one of the essential methods in quantitative data collection. The researcher has gathered the secondary data from different sources such as books, articles, online and offline journals and various websites for analysing the context of British railway. Hence evaluating the privatisation of British railways and the passenger satisfaction, the secondary data assisted the researcher in assessing the impact of privatisation on satisfaction levels of passengers of London. Further, the collected data has been stored in the laptop which is password protected.