research methods - types of data. Flashcards
What is meant by “quantitative data”?
Value of data which is expressed in numerical terms.
What is meant by “qualitative data”?
Non-numerical language-based data.
What is meant by “primary data”?
Information based or collected directly from first-hand experience.
What is meant by “secondary data”?
Information that was collected by another researcher which was for another purpose other than current study.
What is meant by “meta-analysis”?
A process where a number of studies are identified which investigated the same aims/hypotheses and a joint conclusion is produced.
What form is qualitative data collected in?
Written description of thoughts, feelings and opinions.
What type of research uses qualitative data?
One that is exploratory and seeks to explain how and why a particular phenomena or behaviour is taking place.
What are examples of research methods that use qualitative data?
- interviews.
- observations.
- case studies.
What are the strengths of qualitative data?
- more richness of detail
↳ gives participant opportunity to report feelings, thoughts and opinions. - high external validity
↳ provides more meaningful insight into participant’s worldview.
What are the weaknesses of qualitative data?
- difficult to analyse
↳ cannot be summarised statically as it is difficult to identify patterns and comparisons. - conclusions rely on subjective interpretations
↳ subject to bias.
➝ researcher may have preconceptions about what they are expecting to find.
How is quantitative data analysed?
Statically.
What are examples of research methods that use quantitative data?
- lab experiments.
- questionnaires.
↳ e.g. closed questions.
What are the strengths of quantitative data?
- simple to analyse
↳ comparison can be made. - objective.
- less open to bias.
What is weakness of quantitative data?
- less detail
↳ difficult to represent ‘real life’.
What is primary data collected from?
- questionnaires.
- interviews.
- experiments.
- observations.
What is a strength of primary data?
- authentic
↳ been collected from participant themselves for purpose of the investigation.
What is a weakness of primary data?
- time consuming
↳ requires planning, preparation and resources.
What is secondary data collected from?
- journal articles.
- books.
- websites.
- statistics.
What are the strengths of secondary data?
- inexpensive.
- easily accessed using minimal effort.
- saves time
↳ may find desired information already exists and so there is no need to conduct primary data collection.
What are the weaknesses of secondary data?
- may be outdated or incomplete.
- may not match the needs of the researcher and their objectives.
What occurs in meta-analysis?
No additional research is carried out.
What is a strength of meta-analysis?
- allows researchers to create a large, varied sample which can be generalised to a large populations.
What is a weakness of meta-analysis?
- prone to publication bias.
↳ when a researcher may not select all relevant studies and choose to leave out studies with negative/non-significant results which may mean the results are biased.
