Types of data

Question 1

What are the two types of data?

Answer 1

1. Qualitative
2. Quantitative

Question 2

What is qualitative data?

Answer 2

Qualitative data is expressed in words, a written description of thoughts, feelings and opinions or participants .
A transcript from an interview or an extract from a diary or notes recorded within a counselling session would be classed as qualitative data.
It is used to collect data in

Question 3

What is quantitative data?

Answer 3

Quantitative data gathers numerical data in the form of individual scores from participants such as the number of words a person was able to recall in a memory experiment, which is then converted into graphs, charts etc
it is used to collect data in experiments, correlation, structured observations, questionnaires and interviews when close questions are used

Question 3

Advantages & disadvantages of quantitative data?

Answer 3

+ considered more scientific as it is more object
+ easier to analyse through statistical techniques and present in graphs
- Does not offer researchers an in depth picture of a topic
- Limited in scope (no meaning or detail). Only tells us how often a behaviour occurs, not why

Question 4

Advantages & disadvantages of qualitative data?

Answer 4

+ Offers researchers a meaningful insight into participants
+ Gives participants the opportunity to fully report their thoughts feelings and opinions
+ Can tell us why a particular behaviour occured rather than just the frequency
- considered less scientific as it is more subjective
- Harder to analyse as it can’t be represented visually unless turned into quantitative data

Question 5

What other two types of data is there?

Answer 5

1. primary data
2. secondary data

Question 6

What is primary data?

Answer 6

Original data collected first hand from the researcher specifically for the purpose of the investigation
Data which is gathered by conducting an experiment, questionnaires, interviews and observations

Question 7

What is secondary data?

Answer 7

Data that has already been collected by someone else that already exists \
for example, journal articles, books, websites, statistical information held by the government (census)

Question 7

Strengths and limitations of primary data?

Answer 7

+ more accurate because it comes from a direct source
+ faster and easier to collect primary data
- Time consuming eg. experiment planning and resources

Question 8

Strengths and limitations of secondary data?

Answer 8

+ Its quicker and cheaper (easily accessed requires minimal effort)
+ already exists so no need for primary data

Question 9

What is meta-analysis?

Answer 9

• A meta analysis is where researchers combine the findings from multiple studies to draw an overall conclusion
• The findings from each studies have the same or similar aims/hypothesis
• A meta analysis is a form of secondary data

Question 10

Strengths and weaknesses of meta analysis

Answer 10

+ It allows researchers to analyse data from a large sample. The results from the meta-analysis are more likely to be generalisable.
+ This method is relatively cheap, as the studies have already been conducted, and the results are already available.
- The studies included in the meta-analysis will likely use different research designs, raising the question of whether the data is comparable.
- Researchers need to ensure the research studies they are combining into their meta-analysis are reliable and valid, as this can affect the reliability and validity of the meta-analysis.