RM Types Of Data And Self Report

Question 1

Pilot study

Answer 1

Small scale version of study
Takes place before real investigation
Might use fewer Qs if you’re conducting a questionnaire for example
Used to check flaws within investigation beforehand

Question 2

Primary data

Answer 2

First hand data that’s been collected specifically for the purpose of the research via an exp, questionnaire, interview or observation

Question 3

Strengths of primary data

Answer 3

Type of data is exactly what researcher wants - fit for purpose
Collected by researcher in the way that they want for their study that they’ve designed

Question 4

Limitations of primary data

Answer 4

Time consuming for researcher
They have to design their study before they can collect any data which may take a long time

Question 5

Secondary data

Answer 5

Data collected by someone other than the person doing the research via a journal, article, book or website

Question 6

Strengths of secondary data

Answer 6

Less time consuming for researcher
Data already exists they are just using data another researcher has already collected

Question 7

Limitations of secondary data

Answer 7

Data collected by another researcher so reliability may be questionable
Could be outdated, incomplete or may not match researchers needs

Question 8

Meta analysis

Answer 8

Combing results from a number of studies on a particular topic to provide an overall view
Uses secondary data

Question 9

Strengths of meta analysis

Answer 9

Results are more reliable as you are combining results from many studies
More likely to be trusted

Question 10

Limitations of meta analysis

Answer 10

Can be affected by publication bias - researcher conducting meta analysis may not choose all relevant studies or excluding studies with differing results
So conclusions drawn may be incorrect

Question 11

Self report
Questionnaires

Answer 11

A set of written questions on a topic on which opinions are sought

Question 12

Closed question

Answer 12

People can only choose from a set of fixed answers
Collects quantitative data
Easy to analyse and compare results
Limited detail so less insight

Question 13

Open question

Answer 13

People can describe what they think and feel in their own words
Collects qualitative data
More detail gathered so more insight
Difficult to analyse

Question 14

Strengths of questionnaires

Answer 14

Less time consuming to gather sample
More representative
No social desirability - people answer honestly as questionnaires can be anonymous
High validity

Question 15

Limitations of questionnaires

Answer 15

Bias sample - people who complete questionnaire could cause unrepresentative sample
Affected by misunderstanding which lowers validity

Question 16

Interviews

Answer 16

Researcher directly asks Ps questions and records their responses

Question 17

Structured interviews

Answer 17

Pre prepared set of questions in a fixed order
More formal
‘Audio questionnaire’

Question 18

Unstructured interviews

Answer 18

Interview starts off with an aim and the interviewee is invited to discuss a particular topic freely
No fixed questions
Same aim may produce very different interview responses

Question 19

Strengths of interviews

Answer 19

Structured interviews are easy to replicate
Unstructured interviews provide more detailed, insightful data

Question 20

Limitations of interviews

Answer 20

Interviewer effect - the way the interviewer may come across may alter the way in which the P responds
Structured interviews are rigid and you can’t deviate form set Qs - no more insight
Unstructured interviews can’t be replicated - lower reliability