research methods: types of data

Question 1

What is qualitative data?

Answer 1

Data that is expressed in words describing behaviour, thoughts or feelings and is non-numerical

Question 2

What are examples of qualitative data?

Answer 2

A transcript from an interview or an unstructured observation

Question 3

What are the strengths of qualitative data?

Answer 3

• offer researchers more detail and depth than quantitative data
• because they collect more information and use open-ended questions so pps are not limited in the responses they give
• thus, has higher external validity

Question 4

What are the limitations of qualitative data?

Answer 4

• Harder to display and analyse
• patterns and comparisons within data may be harder to identify

Question 5

What is quantitative data?

Answer 5

Data that is expressed numerically

Question 6

What is an example of quantitative data?

Answer 6

The number of words recalled on a memory test

Question 7

What are the advantages of quantitative data?

Answer 7

• objectively measured, reducing the likelihood of bias, increasing its credibility
• easy to display e.g. in a graph/chart
• easy to interpret
• can be compared to other results

Question 8

What are the disadvantages of quantitative data?

Answer 8

• lacking depth and detail so may fail to represent ‘real-life’
• only focuses on individual’s behaviours which can be mathematically measured

Question 9

Is quantitative or qualitative data preferrable?

Answer 9

A combination of quantitative and qualitative data may be preferrable

Question 10

What is primary data?

Answer 10

original data collected by the researcher for the purpose of scientific investigation

Question 11

What are examples of primary data?

Answer 11

Field research, observations, results of an experiment

Question 12

What is secondary data?

Answer 12

Data that has been collected previously not by the researcher conducting the current investigation

Question 13

What are examples of secondary data?

Answer 13

Statistics, journals, articles/report

Question 14

What are the strengths of primary data?

Answer 14

• Authentic data obtained from the pps themselves for the purpose of the investigation
• you can be sure its reliable
• increases validity as the researcher can control the data collection process carefully

Question 15

What are the limitations of primary data?

Answer 15

• Time consuming and expensive
• e.g. paying participants for their time and other researchers for their work

Question 16

What are the advantages of secondary data?

Answer 16

• Makes your research faster and more cost effective as the data already exists

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of secondary data?

Answer 17

• decreased validity as the data is not collected to answer the research question directly
• so less specific and relevant
• decreased validity as the researcher had no role in the data collection process, so cannot ensure that the data was collected free from bias or variables

Question 18

What is meta-analysis?

Answer 18

A process that collects and combines the results of a range of previously published studies asking similar research questions

Question 19

What happens to the results of meta-analysis?

Answer 19

The data is collected and reviewed together and can include statistically combining all the data to produce an overall effect size and conclusion

Question 20

What are the advantages of meta-analysis?

Answer 20

• The large sample size produces results that are more statistically powerful than studies with a small number of participants
• allows us to create larger, more varied sample with results that can be generalised across much larger populations, increasing validity

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of meta-analysis?

Answer 21

• It is prone to publication bias as the researcher may not select all relevant studies
• may choose to leave out studies with negative or non-significant results
• the conclusions from the meta-analysis will be biased because they only represent some of the relevant data
• has all the weaknesses of secondary data