Types of Data Flashcards
What is data?
Information or measurements gathered during the course of a study.
The interpretation of data allows the research psychologist to draw conclusions about the event under study.
What is quantitative data?
Focus is on numerical data.
E.g. questionnaires and experiments.
State 2 strengths of quantitative data.
Measurable
Large sample size.
Easy to analyse.
Trends are easy to observe.
Objective meaning.
State 2 weaknesses of quantitative data.
No rich detail provided.
Complex behaviour over-simplified into numbers.
Emotions and feelings ignored.
What is qualitative data?
Focus is on non-numerical data, such as verbal reports.
E.g. interviews and focus groups.
State 2 strengths of qualitative data.
Provides rich and detailed information.
Holistic understanding of individuals.
Data often suggests testable hypotheses.
State 2 weaknesses of qualitative data.
Cannot be easily measured.
Cannot be simply compared.
Time consuming.
Expensive.
State 3 comparison points between quantitative and qualitative data.
Quantitative Data:
Objective.
Precise numerical measures used.
Lacks detail.
High in reliability.
Used for behaviour.
Collected in ‘artificial setting.
Qualitative Data:
Subjective.
Imprecise non-numerical measures used.
Rich and detailed.
Low in reliability.
Used for attitudes, opinions, beliefs.
Collected in ‘real-life’ setting.
What is triangulation?
Sometimes it’s best to do a combination of both.
You are able to do a qualitative study and then decide to carry out an experiment to gather quantitative data:
E.g. If you wanted to examine how tasty a specific food was you could ask participants:
How would you rate the food out of 10? (quantitative).
Describe how the food tasted? (qualitative).
What is primary data?
Refers to original data collected specifically towards a research aim, which has not been published before.
More reliable and valid than secondary data, as it has not been manipulated in any way.
What is secondary data?
Refers to data originally collected towards another research aim, which has been published before.
Secondary data drawn from several sources can help to give clearer insight into a research area that primary data cannot.
