Research Methods: Maths Skills Flashcards
What are the 6 steps of Standard Deviation?
- Calculate the mean
- Subtract mean from each score.
- Square each ‘deviation’
- Add squared deviations.
- Divide the sum by (no of scores -1)
- Calculate the square root.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Standard Deviation?
Advantage: It’s not affected by outliers because it looks at individual scores.
Disadvantages: Difficult to calculate, can be time consuming and complicated.
What is Qualitative Data?
Data that is produced in written form.
What is Quantitative Data?
Data that has a numerical value.
What are the advantages + disadvantages of Qualitative Data?
Advantages:
- Can get rich, in depth data
- Good for subjects with little prior research.
- Increased validity (compared to quant.)
Disadvantages:
- Harder to analyse (compared to quant.)
- Harder with larger sample sizes.
- Expensive and time consuming.
What are the advantages + disadvantages of Quantitative Data?
Advantages:
- Easy to analyse and draw conclusions.
- Can collect data in large quantities.
- Quick and easy to collect.
Disadvantages:
- Surface level data.
- Not appropriate for sensitive research areas.
What is Primary Data?
Data that is collected first hand by the researcher.
What is Secondary Data?
Data that has been collected by someone other than the researcher.
What are the advantages + disadvantages of using Primary Data?
Advantages:
- The researcher had full control (can eliminate ethical issues, biases, etc.)
- Can insure the internal validity of the study.
Disadvantages:
- Time consuming and expensive.
What are the advantages + disadvantages of using Secondary Data?
Advantages:
- Takes less time and money to collect.
Disadvantages:
- Cannot be sure that the research has high validity and was collected ethically.
