Methodology: Quantitative and Qualitative Data

Question 1

Define ‘quantitative data’.

Answer 1

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).

Question 2

Give an example of quantitative data.

Answer 2

Measures of central tendency:

• Mean
• Mode
• Median

Question 3

Give an example of quantitative data in social psychology.

Answer 3

65% of people administering 450V in Milgram’s (1963) experiment.

Question 4

Give an example of how quantitative data might be collected.

Answer 4

Counting the amount of times something occurs.

Question 5

Give an example of how quantitative data might be collected in social psychology.

Answer 5

The number of times a ppt obeyed instructions of a researcher.

Question 6

Give an example of how quantitative data might be expressed.

Answer 6

Through a bar chart.

Question 7

Give an example of how qualitative data might be analysed.

Answer 7

Through statistical tests, such as a Mann Whitney U-Test.

Question 8

Define ‘objectivity’.

Answer 8

All sources of bias are minimised and subjectivity is eliminated.

Question 9

Evaluate the generalisability of quantitative data using a high point.

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Evaluate the reliability of quantitative data using a high point.

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Evaluate the validity of quantitative data using 2 low points.

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Evaluate the reductionism of quantitative data using a high point.

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Define ‘qualitative data’.

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Give an example of qualitative data.

Answer 14

The opinions of a respondent in a questionnaire.

Question 15

Give an example of qualitative data in social psychology.

Answer 15

Milgram’s (1963) ppts showed signs of stress through nervous laughter.

Question 16

Give an example of how qualitative data might be collected.

Answer 16

Through observations of human behaviour.

Question 17

Give an example of how qualitative data might be collected in social psychology.

Answer 17

Adorno’s (1950) interviews of ppts who had high F-scores that gathered detailed, qualitative data on their childhood.

Question 18

Give an example of how qualitative data might be expressed.

Answer 18

Through the opinions in a questionnaire.

Question 19

Give an example of how qualitative data might be analysed.

Answer 19

Through thematic analysis.

Question 20

Define ‘subjectivity’.

Answer 20

A person’s personal opinions influencing how they analyse data or view a situation, reducing objectivity.

Question 21

Evaluate the generalisability of qualitative data using a low point.

Answer 21

P - Low
E - Qualitative data takes time to analyse
E - Therefore a smaller, unrepresentative sample will be obtained

Question 22

Evaluate the reliability of qualitative data using a low point.

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Evaluate the validity of qualitative data using a high and low point.

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Evaluate the reductionism of qualitative data using a low point.

Answer 24

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