Data analysis: Types of data Flashcards
What is qualitative data?
Data that is expressed in words and is non-numerical.
What is quantitative data?
Data that can be counted, usually given as numbers.
What is primary data?
Information that has been obtained first-hand by the researcher for the purposes of the research study.
What is secondary data?
Information that has already been collected by someone else and so pre-dates the current research project.
What is a meta-analysis?
‘Research about research’, the process of combining results from a number of studies in one particular topic.
Which type of data is collected by someone else such as another psychologist?
Secondary data.
A diary of a persons thoughts and feelings is what type of data?
Qualitative data.
Describe the common feature of qualitative data collection methods:
They are usually concerned with the interpretation of language.
A score on a psychology test would be which type of data?
Quantitative data.
n interview transcript would be which type of data?
Qualitative data.
Unstructured Interviews or observations are types of collecting which type of data?
Qualitative data.
Which type of data is numerically expressed?
Quantitative data.
Which type of data is open to being statistically analysed and converted into graphs such as scattergrams?
Quantitative data.
Notes recorded during a counselling session would likely be what type of data?
Qualitative data.
What type of data includes government statistics?
Secondary data.
Which is better; qualitative or quantitative data?
Neither really, it depends on the purpose and aims of the research study.
Which type of data is sometimes called field research data?
Primary data.
Which data is collected by the researcher specifically for the purpose of the investigation by the researcher?
Primary data.
How is primary data gathered?
By conducting an experiment, questionnaire, interview or observation.
Which type of data is used in scattergram?
Quantitative data.
Behavioural categories in Ainsworth’s experiment collect what types of data?
Quantitative data.
Which type of data is collected by someone else?
Secondary data.
AO3 - Qualitative data positives.
- Offers the researcher more richness of detail.
- Broader scope to allow thought development.
- Greater external validity as greater insight.
AO3 - Does qualitative or quantitative data have greater external validity?
Qualitative because it provides the researcher with a more meaningful insight into participant’s worldview.
Which type of data already exists before the researcher conducts his research?
Secondary data.
Which type of data is often referred to as ‘desk data’?
Secondary data.
AO3 - Qualitative data negatives.
- 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.
AO3 - Quantitative data positives.
- Relatively simple to analyse, therefore, comparisons can be drawn easily.
- Numerical data tends to be more objective and less open to bias.
AO3 - Quantitative data negatives.
- Quantitative data is much narrower in scope and thus may fail to represent ‘real-life’.
AO3 - Primary data positives.
- It is designed to fit the research aims and specifically targets the information that the researcher requires.
- Authentic as obtained by the researcher themselves.
AO3 - Primary data negatives.
- 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.
AO3 - Secondary data positives.
- Inexpensive and easily accessible requiring minimal effort from the researcher in gathering data.
- Desired information may already be collected by someone else.
AO3 - Secondary data negatives.
- 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.
What is the dependent variable in a meta-analysis?
The effect size.
What are some benefits of using a meta-analysis?
Combines many different studies to increase generalisation of the area as there is a larger sampled population.
