Types of Data

Question 1

what are the types of data?

Answer 1

• qualitative and quantitative data
• primary and secondary data

Question 2

what is qualitative data?

Answer 2

data which is expressed in words

Question 3

what is quantitative data?

Answer 3

data is expressed numerically

Question 4

what are strengths of qualitative data?

Answer 4

• offers more richness
• greater external validity(more meaningful insight into the participant’s worldview)

Question 5

what are weaknesses of qualitative data?

Answer 5

• difficult to analyse (not easy to summarise statistically)
  -often rely on subjective interpretation(subject to bias)

Question 6

what are strengths of quantitative data?

Answer 6

• relatively simple to analyse
• more objective and less open to bias

Question 7

what are weaknesses of quantitative data?

Answer 7

• much narrower in meaning and detail, thus fail to represent ‘real life’

Question 8

what is primary data?

Answer 8

• original data that has been collected specifically for the purpose of the investigation by the researcher
• first-hand data from ppts themselves

Question 9

what is secondary data?

Answer 9

• data that has been collected by someone other than the person conducting research
• data that already exists
• e.g. journal articles, books or websites

Question 10

what are strengths of primary data?

Answer 10

• authentic data obtained from the ppts themselves for the purpose of a particular investigation

Question 11

what are weaknesses of primary data?

Answer 11

• requires time and effort (for researcher)
• requires considerable planning, preparation and resources

Question 12

what are strengths of secondary data?

Answer 12

• may be inexpensive and easily accessed requiring minimal effort

Question 13

what are weaknesses of secondary data?

Answer 13

• information may be outdated or incomplete
• the content of data may not quite match the researcher’s needs or objectives
• may challenge the validity of any conclusions