Kinds of data Flashcards
What is qualitative data
Data that is expressed in words and non-numerical
What is quantitative data
Data that is expressed numerically
What is a strength of using qualitative data
High external validity- offers more richness of detail as gives a more meaningful insight into the participant’s worldview
What are two limitations of using qualitative data
- difficult to analyse as not east to summarise statistically
- risk of subjective interpretation and bias
What are two strengths of using quantitative data
- simple to analyse and can make comparisons
- objective and less open to bias
What is a limitation of using quantitative data
Low external validity- much narrower in scope so less likely to represent real world
What is primary data
Data that has been obtained first-hand by the researcher for the purposes of a research project
What is secondary data
Data that has been obtained by someone other than the person who is conducting the research and for a purpose other than the current one (already existing research)
What is a strength of primary data
data is specific to the research question
What is a limitation of primary data
Time consuming and expensive to collect data- conducting an experiment takes planning, preparation and resources
What is a strength of secondary data
easy and cheaper to access someone else’s’ data
What is a limitation of secondary data
Content of data might not match the researcher’s needs or objectives
What is meta-analysis
A process of combining results from a number of studies on a particular topic to provide and overall view
What is a strength of using meta-analysis
Increases validity of conclusions because they are based on a wider sample of participants
What is a limitation of using meta-analysis
Research designs in the different studies may vary and so studies may not be truly comparable- lead to possible invalid conclusions
