Types of data

Question 1

What do quantitative methods focus on?

Answer 1

Numbers and frequencies

Question 2

What do quantitative methods not focus on?

Answer 2

Meaning and experience

Question 3

Give some examples of quantitative methods.

Answer 3

• Experiments
• Questionnaires
• Psychometric tests

Question 4

What are quantitative methods known for being/not being?

Answer 4

Not valid (not measuring what they claim to measure) but thought to be highly reliable (produce consistent results over time)

Question 5

What do qualitative methods focus on?

Answer 5

Meaning and experience

Question 6

What do qualitative methods not focus on?

Answer 6

Numbers and frequencies

Question 7

What type of data method focuses on numbers and frequencies?

Answer 7

Quantitative

Question 8

What type of data method focuses on meaning and experience?

Answer 8

Qualitative

Question 9

What are qualitative methods known for being/not being?

Answer 9

Lack of reliability but lots of validity

Question 10

Give 2 strengths of quantitative data.

Answer 10

• More likely to be interpreted objectively so conclusions are more reliable as the interpretation is more consistent/reliable
• Easy to compare between participants and do stat tests, allowing us to better understand data and identify cause and effect if we find significant differences from stat test results

Question 11

Give 2 weaknesses of quantitative data.

Answer 11

• Does not allow participants to describe why they are as their score suggests, so we can’t explain reasons behind behaviour from a score
• Participants may feel they are not well represented by their scores, so a lack of validity

Question 12

Give 2 strengths of qualitative data.

Answer 12

• In-depth information on participant’s behaviour, allowing us to identify reasons behind behaviour
• Participants can answer how they wish and are unrestricted, so more valid results as they can more accurately express themselves

Question 13

Give 2 weaknesses of qualitative data.

Answer 13

• Not easy to make comparisons between participants, so it’s more difficult to establish cause and effect, and in extension difficult to predict future behaviour.
• More likely to be interpreted subjectively, so conclusions are less reliable as the interpretation is not consistent

Question 14

What are the 3 levels of data?

Answer 14

• Nominal
• Ordinal
• Interval

Question 15

What is nominal data?

Answer 15

A measure of how many things occur within a category

Question 16

Which type of data gives us the least information (nominal, ordinal, or interval)?

Answer 16

Nominal - it tells us how many things occur within a category but not what types - for example you could say in a playroom there are 10 bears and 16 dolls, but not the types of doll, like Barbie doll or china doll.

Question 17

When might you find nominal data?

Answer 17

When conducting observations, as categories of behaviour are set out at the start of an observation.

Question 18

What is ordinal data?

Answer 18

A measure of each item or person in the data set/putting results into order (e.g. height order from smallest to tallest in the class)

Question 19

Which of the three types of data (nominal, ordinal, or interval) gives the most information?

Answer 19

Interval data

Question 20

a) Which of the three types of data (nominal, ordinal, or interval) gives the most information?
b) Which gives the least?

Answer 20

a) Interval data

b) Nominal data