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EconomicsClass 11C HA P T E R

C HA P T E R | Class 11 Economics Notes

By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 5 min read

C HA P T E R – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of C HA P T E R from Class 11 Economics, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.

3. HOW DO WE COLLECT THE DATA?

This section discusses the methods and instruments used for data collection, focusing on surveys as a primary method. Surveys gather information by asking questions from individuals to describe characteristics such as product quality or candidate popularity. The main instrument for surveys is the questionnaire or interview schedule, which can be self-administered or conducted by an enumerator. The section outlines important guidelines for preparing questionnaires: keep them short, simple, clear, and arranged from general to specific questions. It warns against ambiguous, double-negative, leading, or biased questions, providing examples of poor and good questions to illustrate these points. The questionnaire can contain closed-ended (structured) questions with fixed options, such as yes/no or multiple choice, or open-ended (unstructured) questions allowing free responses. Closed-ended questions are easier to analyze but may limit responses, while open-ended questions provide richer data but are harder to interpret. The section also explains three modes of data collection: personal interviews, mailing questionnaires, and telephone interviews, each with advantages and disadvantages. Personal interviews allow face-to-face interaction and clarification but are costly and time-consuming. Mailing questionnaires are less expensive and reach remote areas but may have low response rates and lack interviewer assistance. Telephone interviews are quicker and cheaper than personal interviews but limited by telephone access and inability to observe reactions. The section concludes with the importance of conducting a pilot survey to pre-test the questionnaire and identify issues before the main survey.

📊 Diagram: [figure_2] [figure_3] [table_2] [table_3] [table_4] Personal interviews are preferred due to various reasons. Personal contact is made between the respondent and the interviewer. The interviewer has the opportunity of explaining the study and answering; In a telephone interview, the investigator asks questions over the

🧪 Activity: Activities include choosing appropriate data collection modes for remote villages and discussing problems in interviewing parents in presence of school principal.

🔗 Connection: Prepares the reader for understanding the distinction between Census and Sample Surveys in the next section.

Frequently asked questions

Frame at least four appropriate multiple-choice options for following questions: (i) Which of the following is the most important when you buy a new dress? (ii) How often do you use computers? (iii) Which of the newspapers do you read regularly? (iv) Rise in the price of petrol is justified. (v) What is the monthly income of your family?

This question asks you to create multiple-choice options for each of the given questions. For example:

(i) Which of the following is the most important when you buy a new dress? Options: A) Price B) Colour C) Brand D) Comfort

(ii) How often do you use computers? Options: A) Daily B) Weekly C) Occasionally D) Never

(iii) Which of the newspapers do you read regularly? Options: A) The Times of India B) Hindustan Times C) The Hindu D) None

(iv) Rise in the price of petrol is justified. Options:

Frame five two-way questions (with 'Yes' or 'No').

Two-way questions are those which can be answered with 'Yes' or 'No'. Examples: 1. Do you like to study Economics? 2. Have you ever used a computer? 3. Is your school located in the city? 4. Do you watch television daily? 5. Have you ever traveled outside your state?

State whether the following statements are True or False. (i) There are many sources of data. (ii) Telephone survey is the most suitable method of collecting data, when the population is literate and spread over a large area. (iii) Data collected by investigator is called the secondary data. (iv) There is a certain bias involved in the non-random selection of samples. (v) Non-sampling errors can be minimised by taking large samples.

(i) True - There are many sources of data such as surveys, censuses, administrative records, etc.

(ii) True - Telephone surveys are suitable when the population is literate and spread over a large area.

(iii) False - Data collected by investigator is called primary data, not secondary data.

(iv) True - Non-random selection of samples introduces bias.

(v) False - Non-sampling errors cannot be minimized by increasing sample size; they arise due to other factors like measurement errors.

What do you think about the following questions? Do you find any problem with these questions? Describe. (i) How far do you live from the closest market? (ii) If plastic bags are only 5 per cent of our garbage, should it be banned? (iii) Wouldn't you be opposed to increase in price of petrol? (iv) Do you agree with the use of chemical fertilisers? (v) Do you use fertilisers in your fields? (vi) What is the yield per hectare in your field?

This question asks to analyze the given questions for any problems such as ambiguity, leading questions, or difficulty in answering.

(i) 'How far do you live from the closest market?' - May be difficult for some respondents to estimate exact distance.

(ii) 'If plastic bags are only 5 per cent of our garbage, should it be banned?' - This is a leading question as it suggests a small percentage.

(iii) 'Wouldn't you be opposed to increase in price of petrol?' - Leading question, suggests the expe

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