Types of data

Question 1

Quantitative data

Answer 1

Numerical data that can be easily and objectively analysed using inferential statistics

E,g, statistics, measures of central tendency

Question 2

Qualitative data

Answer 2

Rich, subjective, non-numerical data, often in the form of written or recorded descriptions, which are detailed but can be more difficult to analyse

E.g. diaries, pictures

Question 3

Primary data

Answer 3

Collected first-hand by an experimenter which intends to specifically meet the aim of a particular study

This is collected for the purpose of the investigation

Therefore is is normally expensive and time consuming to gather

E.g. conducting interviews/questionnaires, performing observations

Question 4

Secondary data

Answer 4

Collected by somebody other than the experimenter and has normally already been published

Although it is easy and inexpensive to gather, it may be biased because it has been through a process of interpretation by other researchers

E.g. previously published research in journals, meta-analysis

Question 5

Meta-analysis (meta-data)

Answer 5

Type of secondary data where researchers combine the primary data from a number of smaller studies, to analyse it as one large data set

Used in research where only small samples are possible as the smaller sets of data can be analysed as one large set to establish new trends or conclusions

E.g. Holland: meta-analysis of MZ/DZ anorexic twins

Question 6

Closed questions

Answer 6

Only allow participants to respond in certain ways, providing quantitative data as they offer fixed answers from a small list of potentials

Question 7

Closed questions strengths

Answer 7

Can provide quantitative data that can be easily and objectively analysed

Often increase response rates as they require little time and effort to answer

Question 8

Closed questions limitations

Answer 8

Can force responders to give a biased answer if the answer they want to provide is not represented

The researcher decides the fixed answers meaning they may be biased or miss out answers they hadn’t considered important

Question 9

Open questions

Answer 9

Allow participants to respond freely, in any number of ways, providing qualitative data as they give the opportunity to fully explain one’s thoughts, beliefs and opinions

Question 10

Open questions strength

Answer 10

Provide qualitative data that is rich in detail

Question 11

Open questions limitations

Answer 11

Can be difficult to analyse as qualitative data is lengthy and subjective

Often decrease response rates as they require time and effort to answer