Types Of Data

Question 1

What is qualitative data?

Answer 1

Data which is descriptive rather than quantified or counted, therefore it is observed or reported rather than measured.

For example:
Case studies
Open answer questionnaires
Description of behaviours seen in observations
Content analysis

Question 2

What is quantitative data?

Answer 2

When the researcher gathers data in a numerical form which can be put into categories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement.
This type of data can be used to construct graphs and tables of raw data.
For example:
Data in experiments
Closed answer questionnaires
Tallies of behaviours in an observation
Content analysis – number of occurrences of categories

Question 3

What is primary data?

Answer 3

Data collected or observed directly by the researcher from participants which is specifically for the purposes of the research.

Examples include:
Data collected in an experiment
Interviewing
Making your own questionnaire

Question 4

What is secondary data?

Answer 4

Data collected by someone other than the researcher of the study and purpose was for something other than the aims of the study.

Examples include:-
Government statistics
Journal articles
Literature review

Question 5

What is meta analysis?

Answer 5

Meta-analysis
This refers to a form of research method in which a number of studies are identified which have investigated the same aims/hypothesis. The results of these studies can be pooled together and a joint conclusion produced.