Collecting Data Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 stages of the data handling cycle?

A
  1. Specify the problem and plan. This will lead to deciding upon a hypothesis.
  2. Collect data from a variety of sources.
  3. Process and represent data.
  4. Interpret and discuss data.
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2
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A statement that it is thought might be true.

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3
Q

What does primary data include?

A
  1. Raw data.
  2. Surveys.
  3. Questionnaires which may have more than two categories.
  4. Investigations.
  5. Experiments
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4
Q

What does secondary data include?

A
  1. Databases.
  2. Published statistics.
  3. Newspapers,
  4. Internet pages.
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5
Q

What is a quantitative variable?

A

A variable that takes numerical values, for example, counts, temperatures, weights, amounts of money.

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6
Q

What is a qualitative variable?

A

A variable that does not take numerical values, for example, eye colour, favourite name.

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7
Q

What is discrete data?

A

Data that can only take certain numerical values in a given range, for example number of people.

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8
Q

What is continuous data?

A

Data that can take any numerical value within a range, for example height.

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9
Q

What is categorical?

A

Hair colour.

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10
Q

What is rank?

A

Grades.

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11
Q

How can the class width be calculated?

A

class width = (max value - min value) / number of classes.

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12
Q

What is the class interval?

A

The size of each class into which a range of a variable is divided, as represented by the divisions of a histogram or bar chart.

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13
Q

What is bivariate data?

A

Data that involve two variables.

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14
Q

Define: Population.

A

Everybody or everything that could be involved in an investigation.

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15
Q

Define: Census.

A

A census obtains information about every member of a population.

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16
Q

What are the advantages of a census?

A
  1. Unbiased.
  2. Accurate.
  3. Takes the whole population into account.
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17
Q

What are the disadvantages of a census?

A
  1. Time-consuming.
    2, Expensive.
  2. Difficult to ensure the whole population is used.
  3. Lots of data to handle.
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18
Q

What are the advantages of a sample?

A
  1. Cheaper.
  2. Less time-consuming.
  3. Fewer data to be considered.
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19
Q

What are the disadvantages of a sample?

A
  1. Not completely representative.

2. May be biased.

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20
Q

What should I think about when collecting primary data?

A
  1. Whether to use a questionnaire.

2. Whether you can count or measure the results.

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21
Q

What should I think about when collecting secondary data?

A
  1. Whether you can get exactly the information you need.
  2. How reliable the source is.
  3. Whether the data has been collected by someone who is biased.
22
Q

What is a sampling frame?

A

A list of the population.

23
Q

What is a sample?

A

Part of the population.

24
Q

What are the advantages of convenience sampling?

A

Easy.

25
Q

What are the disadvantages of convenience sampling?

A

It can be biased.

26
Q

What is convenience sampling?

A

A convenient sample that is used when it is only possible to take a sample in a particular way, or time may be too short to use most sampling methods.

27
Q

What is quota sampling?

A

Pre-specified numbers of the population are taken with certain combinations of characteristics such as sex, age etc.

28
Q

What is the advantage of quota sampling?

A

Easy.

29
Q

What is the disadvantage of quota sampling?

A

Can be biased.

30
Q

What is cluster sampling?

A

A sample of the groups is selected randomly and observations are taken from each member of these groups.

31
Q

What is the advantage of cluster sampling?

A

Easy.

32
Q

What is the disadvantage of cluster sampling?

A

Can be biased.

33
Q

What is systematic sampling?

A

Every nth person or unit on an unordered list is selected, beginning at a random point.

34
Q

What is the equation for systematic sampling?

A

population / sample size

35
Q

How can a random sample be found?

A

(Ran) x (population)

36
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

A sampling method that reflects the proportion of the population in each group.

37
Q

What is the formula for stratified sampling?

A

( (members in group) / (population) ) x sample size

38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what are the advantages of giving out a form?

A
  1. It’s easy to give out a lot to people.
  2. Giving it out and collecting it is not a lot of work.
  3. It’s cheap.
  4. People can take their time.
38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what are the disadvantages of giving out a form?

A
  1. You won’t know if someone has misunderstood a question or written an answer down wrongly.
  2. People might miss questions out.
  3. They might not bother to do it or return it.
38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what are the advantages of doing an interview?

A

The interviewer can make sure people understand the questions and answer them all.

38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what are the disadvantages of doing an interview?

A
  1. It takes a lot of time.

2. If you’re paying someone to collect the data for you it will be expensive.

38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what is the problem with non-response?

A

The sample should represent the population fairly. If you don’t get a return from someone it will bias the results.

38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, how can the response rate be improved?

A
  1. By including a reply envelope, with freepost or a stamp.

2. Some companies enter people into a prize draw as an incentive.

38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what are the advantages of giving out a form?

A
  1. It’s easy to give out a lot to people.
  2. Giving it out and collecting it is not a lot of work.
  3. It’s cheap.
  4. People can take their time.
38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what are the disadvantages of giving out a form?

A
  1. You won’t know if someone has misunderstood a question or written an answer down wrongly.
  2. People might miss questions out.
  3. They might not bother to do it or return it.
38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what are the advantages of doing an interview?

A

The interviewer can make sure people understand the questions and answer them all.

38
Q

When conducting a questionnaire, what are the disadvantages of doing an interview?

A
  1. It takes a lot of time.

2. If you’re paying someone to collect the data for you it will be expensive.

48
Q

Why should a pilot survey be done before conducting a questionnaire?

A

A pilot survey helps check that the questions are clear and that all the necessary information will be obtained.

49
Q

How can a pilot survey be conducted?

A

By giving the questionnaire to a small group of people then using their responses to fine tune the questionnaire.

50
Q

Why is a placebo used in statistical experiments?

A

To eliminate any psychological factors.

51
Q

What kind of questions should be asked in a questionnaire?

A
  1. Don’t ask biased questions i.e. leading questions.
  2. Don’t ask embarrassing questions.
  3. Give people a choice of answers i.e. closed questions.
  4. Think about using an opinion scale.
  5. Make sure questions are not open to interpretation.