types of data Flashcards
primary data
data that is generated by the research themselves
eg questionnaires, interviews, observations and experiments
primary data advantages
researcher can collect the data they want, how they want to
more likely to be up to date
primary data disadvantages
expensive and time consuming
may not be able to access the groups you want to
if project takes a long time - findings may be out of date
secondary data
data that the researcher did not generate themselves
eg official statistics, diaries, newspapers
secondary data advantages
cheap and plentiful
easy to access
can provide historical or comparative dimensions
secondary data disadvantages
may not record the information the researcher wants
may not be accurate
may be out of date
quantitative data
data can be measures
eg age, sex, ethnicity, class
data analysed statistically
favours quantity, objectivity and reliability of data
questionnaires, experiments
official stats
quantitative data advantages
can collect large quantities of data
study can be replicated to check results (reliability)
data can be analysed statistically to reveal trends in the data (causal laws)
the researcher is less likely to influence the responses of their sample
quantitative data disadvantages
often forces people to choose predetermined answers thus not showing their true views
the language used by the researcher may be interpreted differently by the respondents
data may show trends but often cannot reveal the direction of causation
response rates can be very low skewing the sample and damaging representativeness
qualitative data
data can be observed and analysed
eg feelings, emotions, meanings
data analysed thematically
favours depth of material leading to better validity and verstehen
interviews, observations
diaries, media, internet
qualitative data advantages
can provide very rich data - full of data
can provide fuller responses that reveal the respondents’ true feelings and views
can observe behaviour in its natural setting
it doesnt force people into boxes created by researchers
can be done covertly
qualitative data disadvantages
the research normally cant be repeated to test accuracy of researcher’s claims
normally the sample size is very small - doesnt represent wider society
researcher may change the behaviour of respondents - hawthorne effect
researcher may use personal bias when interpreting and selecting data
