Data Analysis: Kinds of Data

Question 1

What are four different types of data?

Answer 1

• Quantitative data
• Qualitative data
• Primary data
• Secondary data

Question 2

What is quantitative data?

Answer 2

Numerical data e.e reaction time or number of mistakes

Question 3

Strength of quantitative data:

Answer 3

Easy to analyse

Question 4

Limitation of quantitative data:

Answer 4

Oversimplifies behaviour = individuality lost

Question 5

What is qualitative data?

Answer 5

Non-numerical data expressed in words e.g extract from a diary

Question 6

Strength of qualitative data:

Answer 6

Represents complexities = include unexpected information

Question 7

Limitation of qualitative data:

Answer 7

Not easy to analyse = difficult to get a conclusion

Question 8

What is primary data?

Answer 8

‘First hand’ data collected for the purpose of the investigation

Question 9

Strength of primary data:

Answer 9

Information is directly relevant to research aims

Question 10

Limitations of primary data:

Answer 10

Time and effort

Question 11

What is secondary data?

Answer 11

Collected by someone other than the person who is conducting the research

Question 12

Example of secondary data:

Answer 12

Taken from journal article, books, website or government records

Question 13

Strength of secondary data:

Answer 13

Inexpensive

Question 14

Limitations of secondary data:

Answer 14

Information may be outdated or incomplete

Question 15

What is a meta-analysis?

Answer 15

A type of secondary data that involves combining data from a large number of studies

Question 16

What does a meta-analysis calculate?

Answer 16

Effect size

Question 17

Strength of a meta-analysis:

Answer 17

Increase the extent of generalisation = increase in the validity of the conclusion

Question 18

Limitation of a meta-analysis:

Answer 18

Publication bias = researcher may leave irrelevant or non-significant data out