Methodology: Quantitative and Qualitative Data Flashcards
Define ‘quantitative data’.
Data that is measured by amount and is often expressed numerically that is more likely to be drawn from controlled situations (e.g. lab experiments).
Give an example of quantitative data.
Measures of central tendency:
- Mean
- Mode
- Median
Give an example of quantitative data in social psychology.
65% of people administering 450V in Milgram’s (1963) experiment.
Give an example of how quantitative data might be collected.
Counting the amount of times something occurs.
Give an example of how quantitative data might be collected in social psychology.
The number of times a ppt obeyed instructions of a researcher.
Give an example of how quantitative data might be expressed.
Through a bar chart.
Give an example of how qualitative data might be analysed.
Through statistical tests, such as a Mann Whitney U-Test.
Define ‘objectivity’.
All sources of bias are minimised and subjectivity is eliminated.
Evaluate the generalisability of quantitative data using a high point.
P - High
E - Due to being quick and easy to collect it allows for a larger sample size
E - Therefore will be more representative of the general population
Evaluate the reliability of quantitative data using a high point.
P - High
E - Quantitative data is presented in an objective, numerical form
E - Therefore can be replicated and compared easily due to no interpretation of detail
Evaluate the validity of quantitative data using 2 low points.
P - Low
E - Data in the form of numbers lacks detail
E - Therefore is narrow in focus and unrepresentative of the complexity of human behaviour
P - Low
E - It could be argued that quant data gathered in questionnaires is open to subjectivity in that it relies on ppts give a score based on their personal opinion
E - Therefore there are situations in which quantitative data can become subjective
Evaluate the reductionism of quantitative data using a high point.
P - Reductionist
E - It reduces detail about human behaviour down to one measurable aspect
E - Therefore it has a higher scientific status due to being more measurable and comparable
Define ‘qualitative data’.
Data that cannot be numerically measured or tested and is often expressed as words or images that is more likely to be drawn from case studies and open questions.
Give an example of qualitative data.
The opinions of a respondent in a questionnaire.
Give an example of qualitative data in social psychology.
Milgram’s (1963) ppts showed signs of stress through nervous laughter.
Give an example of how qualitative data might be collected.
Through observations of human behaviour.
Give an example of how qualitative data might be collected in social psychology.
Adorno’s (1950) interviews of ppts who had high F-scores that gathered detailed, qualitative data on their childhood.
Give an example of how qualitative data might be expressed.
Through the opinions in a questionnaire.
Give an example of how qualitative data might be analysed.
Through thematic analysis.
Define ‘subjectivity’.
A person’s personal opinions influencing how they analyse data or view a situation, reducing objectivity.
Evaluate the generalisability of qualitative data using a low point.
P - Low
E - Qualitative data takes time to analyse
E - Therefore a smaller, unrepresentative sample will be obtained
Evaluate the reliability of qualitative data using a low point.
P - Low
E - Qualitative data is not measurable and is hard to compare due to the differences in detail
E - Therefore the lack of standardisation makes it hard to replicate and compare
Evaluate the validity of qualitative data using a high and low point.
P - High
E - It gathers large amounts of detail on a specific topic
E - Therefore it helps to understand human behaviour in more depth
P - Low
E - Due to the expression of qualitative data in words and themes it is open to interpretation
E - Therefore elements of subjectivity from researcher bias will reduce credibility due to being harder to analyse
Evaluate the reductionism of qualitative data using a low point.
P - Not reductionist
E - Due to the detail that is gathered it makes findings more holistic
E - Therefore this is not measurable or easy to replicate and compare and so loses scientific status