3      TYPES OF INFORMATION

There are two main types of information produced by the data collection process:-

Quantitative Data 

Quantitative data are numerical data expressed in figures. This type of information is needed when we are looking at a macro level to obtain a broad picture of the project. We need quantitative data when a variable must be measured; e.g. the number of people living below the poverty line or the number of illiterates in a given place. You will also need quantitative data when you are measuring the effect or impact of media service after the media service has been in operation for some length of time. For example, how many more people have learnt about the new practices after a media service was launched as compared to the situation before the media service came into being. The numbers may also be expressed in averages, percentages, proportions etc. and presented in the form of tables, graphs and charts. 

The following example taken from the report of a study on educational school broadcasts will give you an idea of simple quantitative data 

“ It was found that 178 out of the sample of 205 schools (87 percent) had programme receiving facilities. However, radio was found tuned to educational programmes and students listening to those programmes in 25 schools only over the test period of three months. In other words, 12 per cent of the total sample, and 15 per cent of the radio schools made any use of the educational broadcasts.” 

“ Also, all broadcasts were not utilized uniformly. Programmes for the lower standards i.e. V and VI were utilized twice as frequently as those for higher standards i.e. VII and VIII” 

Qualitative Data 

Qualitative data is information that can best be described in words or diagrams and pictures such as description of a situation or an event, observed behavior, direct quotations, maps etc.
An example of qualitative data is given below. This is taken from the report of a study on bio-gas plants installed by a rural research institute in a surrounding village for demonstration purposes. 

“None of the bio-gas plants in the five demonstration households were functional two years after their installation. The following reasons emerged for the failure of the innovation as based on observations and in-depth interviews with the house workers of the concerned households: 

  • The production of the gas becomes low with the fall in temperature in the winter months reducing the utility of the plant for 7-8 months in a year. 

  • The house workers preferred smoldering fire for cooking certain dishes and heating milk. The dishes cooked in this manner tasted well, and a thick layer of cream was formed on the milk in the process, which was used for preparing butter and ‘ghee’. Cooking on slow fire also enabled them to attend to other household and farm chores at the same time. This was not possible with the bio-gas plant which formed direct flame.