types of data Flashcards
What is quantitative data
Data that is numerical and can be statistically analysed
What is qualitative data
Data that is non numerical and expresses the quality of something often involving thoughts feelings and opinions
What is a quantitative data collection technique
Experiments questionnaires and structured observations
What is a qualitative data collection technique
Interviews case studies and unstructured observations
What is primary data
Information collected first hand by the researcher specifically for the purpose of the investigation
What is secondary data
Information that has been collected by someone else for a different purpose and is then used by the researcher
What is meta analysis
A process of combining results from multiple studies on the same topic to provide an overall conclusion and increase the validity of the findings
What is a key feature of primary data
It is specific to the aims and hypotheses of the study
What is a key feature of secondary data
It may be less valid as it was collected for a different purpose
What is a key feature of meta analysis
It identifies trends and patterns across studies and may involve a statistical analysis
What is an advantage of quantitative data
It is easier to analyse and allows for comparisons to be made
What is a disadvantage of quantitative data
It may oversimplify reality as it does not capture the richness of human experience
What is an advantage of qualitative data
It provides rich detail and insight into thoughts and feelings
What is a disadvantage of qualitative data
It is difficult to analyse and may be subjective
What is an advantage of primary data
It has high validity as it is collected specifically for the study
What is a disadvantage of primary data
It is time consuming and expensive to collect
What is an advantage of secondary data
It is inexpensive and easily accessible
What is a disadvantage of secondary data
It may be outdated or not entirely relevant to the research aims
What is an advantage of meta analysis
It increases the generalisability of findings by combining multiple studies
What is a disadvantage of meta analysis
It may suffer from publication bias as studies with significant results are more likely to be published
