Research Methods - Types Of Data Flashcards
What is qualitative data
Data expressed in words rather than numbers or statistics
Eg
Written description of feelings and opinions of participants.
Written account of what the researcher saw
What are research methods that collect qualitative data
interviews, unstructured observations, diary extracts. Qualitative methods are therefore concerned with the interpretation of language.
What is strength of qualitative data
Offers researchers more richness of detail
Much broader in scope
Gives participant the opportunity to develop their thought, feelings and opinions
Greater external validity
What is a limitation of qualitative data
Qualitative data is often difficult to analyse and arrange in categories Patterns and trends within and between data are hard to find. This means that conclusions maybe subjective.
This in turn reduces the validity and the reliability of the data collected.
What is quantitative data
Quantitative data is data expressed numerically.
What are the research methods that quantitative may be used in
experiments, closed questions from questionnaires or interviews. These methods often provide an individual score for a participant
What are strengths of quantitative data
easily converted into graphs and charts and can be statistically analysed.
relatively simple to analyse
Patterns and trends within and between data are more obvious.
Easily be sorted into categories
Conclusions more objective
Increasing validity and reliability of the data collected
What are limitations of quantitative data
Much narrower in scope and meaning
Larger sample is needed for accurate analysis
Less generalisable
No opportunity for participants to develop answers
Doesn’t represent real life
What is primary data
Refers to original data that has been collected for the purpose of the study by the researcher.
Data drives first hand from participants themselves
Eg experiments , questionnaires , interviews and observations
What are the strengths of primary data?
Has a specific purpose
Questionnaires and interviews designed to target information that is required for purpose of investigation
Increases external validity
Authentic data that can be checked
Researchers able to see whether the data is genuine and can be repeated
Increases internal validity
Current data collected. Researcher collecting first hand so reflects current time period
Increases external validity
What are the weaknesses of primary data
Requires time and effort
The researcher has to plan, prepare and resource the study. This is a limitation when compared to secondary data, which may be accessed almost immediately.
What is secondary data
refers to data that has been collected by someone else other than the researcher. It has not been collected specifically for this study. The researcher does not have any contact with the participants.
May be subject to statistical testing so significance known
Eg journal articles, books, websites
What are the strengths of secondary data
Requires little time , effort and money
Researcher doesn’t have to plan or resource study
Easily accessible
Researcher may discover all information exists
What are the weaknesses of secondary data
is not collected for a specific purpose. The study has not been designed to specifically target the information that the researcher requires.
Decreased internal validity
Data not authentic
Researcher not able check if data is genuine , isn’t aware of the procedure cannot repeat it
Decreases internal validity and reliability
Substantial variation in data may be valuable at first
May be outdated - not being collected firsthand so may not reflect current time period, may be incomplete
Decreased external validity
What is a meta analysis
Process of combining results from number of different studies of a particular topic to provide an overall view
