Data analysis: Types of data

Question 1

What is qualitative data?

Answer 1

Data that is expressed in words and is non-numerical.

Question 2

What is quantitative data?

Answer 2

Data that can be counted, usually given as numbers.

Question 3

What is primary data?

Answer 3

Information that has been obtained first-hand by the researcher for the purposes of the research study.

Question 4

What is secondary data?

Answer 4

Information that has already been collected by someone else and so pre-dates the current research project.

Question 5

What is a meta-analysis?

Answer 5

‘Research about research’, the process of combining results from a number of studies in one particular topic.

Question 6

Which type of data is collected by someone else such as another psychologist?

Answer 6

Secondary data.

Question 7

A diary of a persons thoughts and feelings is what type of data?

Answer 7

Qualitative data.

Question 8

Describe the common feature of qualitative data collection methods:

Answer 8

They are usually concerned with the interpretation of language.

Question 9

A score on a psychology test would be which type of data?

Answer 9

Quantitative data.

Question 10

n interview transcript would be which type of data?

Answer 10

Qualitative data.

Question 11

Unstructured Interviews or observations are types of collecting which type of data?

Answer 11

Qualitative data.

Question 12

Which type of data is numerically expressed?

Answer 12

Quantitative data.

Question 13

Which type of data is open to being statistically analysed and converted into graphs such as scattergrams?

Answer 13

Quantitative data.

Question 14

Notes recorded during a counselling session would likely be what type of data?

Answer 14

Qualitative data.

Question 15

What type of data includes government statistics?

Answer 15

Secondary data.

Question 16

Which is better; qualitative or quantitative data?

Answer 16

Neither really, it depends on the purpose and aims of the research study.

Question 17

Which type of data is sometimes called field research data?

Answer 17

Primary data.

Question 18

Which data is collected by the researcher specifically for the purpose of the investigation by the researcher?

Answer 18

Primary data.

Question 19

How is primary data gathered?

Answer 19

By conducting an experiment, questionnaire, interview or observation.

Question 20

Which type of data is used in scattergram?

Answer 20

Quantitative data.

Question 21

Behavioural categories in Ainsworth’s experiment collect what types of data?

Answer 21

Quantitative data.

Question 22

Which type of data is collected by someone else?

Answer 22

Secondary data.

Question 23

AO3 - Qualitative data positives.

Answer 23

• Offers the researcher more richness of detail.
• Broader scope to allow thought development.
• Greater external validity as greater insight.

Question 24

AO3 - Does qualitative or quantitative data have greater external validity?

Answer 24

Qualitative because it provides the researcher with a more meaningful insight into participant’s worldview.

Question 25

Which type of data already exists before the researcher conducts his research?

Answer 25

Secondary data.

Question 26

Which type of data is often referred to as ‘desk data’?

Answer 26

Secondary data.

Question 27

AO3 - Qualitative data negatives.

Answer 27

• Often hard to analyse as it does not lend itself to statistical summaries.
• Consequently, conclusions often rely on the subjective interpretations of researchers which may be subject to bias.

Question 28

AO3 - Quantitative data positives.

Answer 28

• Relatively simple to analyse, therefore, comparisons can be drawn easily.
• Numerical data tends to be more objective and less open to bias.

Question 29

AO3 - Quantitative data negatives.

Answer 29

• Quantitative data is much narrower in scope and thus may fail to represent ‘real-life’.

Question 30

AO3 - Primary data positives.

Answer 30

• It is designed to fit the research aims and specifically targets the information that the researcher requires.
• Authentic as obtained by the researcher themselves.

Question 31

AO3 - Primary data negatives.

Answer 31

• Requires lots of time and effort to gain the data.
• Conducting experiments require planning, preparation and resources whilst it only takes a few minutes to get secondary data.

Question 32

AO3 - Secondary data positives.

Answer 32

• Inexpensive and easily accessible requiring minimal effort from the researcher in gathering data.
• Desired information may already be collected by someone else.

Question 33

AO3 - Secondary data negatives.

Answer 33

• Substantial variation in the quality and accuracy of secondary data.
• May appear valuable at first, then may be out-dated or incomplete.
• Data contents may not match the exact needs of the study and therefore cannot be used correctly.

Question 34

What is the dependent variable in a meta-analysis?

Answer 34

The effect size.

Question 35

What are some benefits of using a meta-analysis?

Answer 35

Combines many different studies to increase generalisation of the area as there is a larger sampled population.