Types of Data

Question 1

qualitative data

Answer 1

data displayed in words (non-numerical)

Question 2

qualitative: strength

Answer 2

more richness and depth of detail
more external validity (allows pps to further develop their opinions)
more meaningful insight

Question 3

qualitative: weakness

Answer 3

difficult to analyse
difficult to compare
researcher bias

Question 4

quantitative data

Answer 4

data displayed numerically (not in words)

Question 5

quantitative: strength

Answer 5

can be analysed statistically and converted to graphs/charts
easy to compare

Question 6

quantitative: weakness

Answer 6

lacks depth of detail
no meaningful insight
low external validity (pps cannot develop their opinions)

Question 7

primary data

Answer 7

information is obtained first hand by the researcher for an investigation

Question 8

primary: strength

Answer 8

targets exact information needed - fits aims and objectives

Question 9

primary: weakness

Answer 9

time and effort
expensive

Question 10

secondary data

Answer 10

information is collected by someone else (not researcher) but is used by the researcher for the investigation

Question 11

secondary: strength

Answer 11

less expensive
requires minimal effort to collect

Question 12

secondary: weakness

Answer 12

data may be outdated or incomplete
data may not be reliable - researchers cannot insure the validity of results

Question 13

meta-analysis

Answer 13

researcher combines the results from many different studies and uses all this data to form an overall conclusion of the subject being investigated

Question 14

meta-analysis: strength

Answer 14

greater generalisability - larger amounts of data is studied
confidence in data bc more of it

Question 15

meta-analysis: weakness

Answer 15

publication bias - researcher may intentionally not publish all data from relevant studies, instead leaves out negative results, therefore a false representation of the subject being investigated