Types and Levels of Data

Question 1

What is quantitative data?

Answer 1

Data in the form of numbers.

Question 2

List the strengths of quantitative data.

Answer 2

• It’s easy to analyse
• Easy to establish cause and effect
• You can make comparisons and see patterns/ trends
• Can repeat to test reliability

Question 3

List the weaknesses of quantitative data.

Answer 3

• Has no detail
• Is reductionist (reduces behaviour to a number)
• Doesn’t give context
• Easy to be biased

Question 4

What is qualitative data?

Answer 4

Data in the form of words.

Question 5

List the strengths of qualitative data.

Answer 5

• Gives depth, detail and insight
• More holistic (better understanding of human behaviour)L
• Can get new info from open questions

Question 6

List the weaknesses of qualitative data.

Answer 6

• Can be hard to analyse
• Difficult to make comparisons
• Hard to replicate
• Behaviour and interviews open to interpretation

Question 7

What is primary data?

Answer 7

When the researcher collects the data themselves.

Question 8

List the strengths of primary data.

Answer 8

• Data will fit the needs of the experiments as it is collected for the purpose of the study.

Question 9

List the weaknesses of primary data.

Answer 9

• Can be time consuming
• Will be more costly for the researcher
• Could be biased

Question 10

What is secondary data?

Answer 10

When the researcher makes use of data collected by someone else.

Question 11

List the strengths of secondary data.

Answer 11

• Saves time for the researcher
• Saves money for the researcher
• Less open to bias

Question 12

List the weaknesses of secondary data.

Answer 12

• Data received may not fit the needs of the study
• Th researcher may misunderstand the original data

Question 13

What are the three levels of quantitative data?

Answer 13

Interval, Ordinal and Nominal

Question 14

What is interval data (give an example)?

Answer 14

A level of measurement where units of equal measurements are used.
E.G. Height, temperature, scores on a test

Question 15

What is Ordinal data (give and example)?

Answer 15

Data that is ordered.
E.G. Rating scales, ranking participants

Question 16

What is Nominal data (give an example)?

Answer 16

A level of measurement where data is in separate categories.
E.G. Tallies, checklists, closed questions with yes or no answers

Question 17

List the strengths of Nominal data.

Answer 17

• Most detailed as mean, mode, median and range can be calculated.

Question 18

List the strengths of Ordinal data.

Answer 18

• More detailed than nominal data
• Allows for range to be calculated

Question 19

List the weaknesses of Ordinal data.

Answer 19

• The mean cannot be used to analyse the data as there is no standardized value for the difference from one score to the next.

Question 20

List the strengths of Nominal data.

Answer 20

• It is easy to generate from closed questions and observations
• Easy to analyse and represent in bar or pie charts

Question 21

List the weaknesses of Nominal data.

Answer 21

• Can only use the mode when analysing data
• Provides very little detail and reasons for the behaviour observed.