Data analysis: types of data

Question 1

Data analysis: types of data

List

Answer 1

Qualitative data
Quantitative data
Primary data
Secondary data

Question 2

Qualitative data

Answer 2

-non-numerical data (expressed in words)

Question 3

Qualitative data

Evaluation

Answer 3

Strengths
-higher richness in data= more meaningful
└higher external validity

Limitations
-difficult to analyse
└difficult to draw comparisons 
-subjective
└subject to bias

Question 4

Quantitative data

Answer 4

-numerical data (expressed as numbers)

Question 5

Quantitative data

Evaluation

Answer 5

Strengths 
-easy to analyse
└easy to draw comparisons 
-objective
└not as subject to bias

Limitations
-less richness in data= less meaningful
└lower external validity

Question 6

Primary data

Answer 6

• information that has been obtained first hand by the researcher
• for the purpose of a research study

Question 7

Primary data

Examples

Answer 7

-data collected by conducting an experiment, questionnaire, interview or observation

Question 8

Primary data

Evaluation

Answer 8

Strengths
-specifically for the purpose of the investigation

Limitations
-more time and effort

Question 9

Secondary data

Answer 9

• information that is used but has been obtained by someone else
• before the current research study

Question 10

Secondary data

Examples

Answer 10

-journal articles, books, websites

Question 11

Secondary data

Evaluation

Answer 11

Strengths
-less time and effort

Limitations

• not specifically for the purpose of the investigation
• data may be out dated or not completed

Question 12

Meta-analysis

Answer 12

• research about research
• combining results of a number of studies on one topic to provide an overall view
• e.g. qualitative review of conclusions
• e.g. quantitative analysis of results