data types / reliability vs validity

Question 1

What does quantitative data involve?

Answer 1

• numbers
• fixed answers (e.g: closed questions in questionnaires)

Question 2

What does qualitative data involve?

Answer 2

• words
• pictures

Question 3

What is primary data?

Answer 3

Qualitative or quantitative data that is collected for the purpose of the research being carried out and is collected first-hand

Question 4

What is secondary data?

Answer 4

Second hand- exists before the researcher started their investigation. Includes the results of someone else’s study or official records.

Question 5

Give a few advantages of using qualitative data

Answer 5

• lots of detailed information
• the participant is unrestricted

Question 6

Give a few disadvantages of using qualitative data

Answer 6

• hard to analyse
• open to bias

Question 7

Give a few advantages of using quantitative data

Answer 7

• easy to analyse
• less likely to be biased
• easy to figure out similarities and connections between things

Question 8

Give a disadvantage of using quantitative data

Answer 8

• lacks depth and doesn’t represent the complexity of the real world

Question 9

Give any advantages of using primary data

Answer 9

• suits the aims of the research- data gathered will be more useful

Question 10

Give a few disadvantages of using primary data

Answer 10

• time and effort
• expensive

Question 11

Give any advantages of using secondary data

Answer 11

• easy to access
• less expensive and time consuming

Question 12

Give any disadvantages of using secondary data

Answer 12

• might not be exactly what the researcher wants- could be out of date or poor quality- could waste valuable time

Question 13

give some examples of quantitative data

Answer 13

• results of closed questions
• average score on a maths test
• participant ratings on a scale of 1-10

Question 14

give some examples of qualitative data

Answer 14

• diary entries
• a summary of how someone treats someone else in a situation
• case study notes