Data

Question 1

What is quantitative data?

Answer 1

Numerical data

Question 2

What is qualitative data?

Answer 2

Data obtained from unstructured interviews/ observations (non-numerical)

Question 3

Name the strengths of quantitative data.

Answer 3

• Allows for a broader study
• Can allow for greater objectivity and accuracy of results
• The research can be replicated - high reliability

Question 4

Name the weaknesses of quantitative data.

Answer 4

• Results are limited as results are only numerical
• Lacks ecological validity
• Pre set answers will not necessarily reflect people’s true feelings

Question 5

Name the strengths of qualitative data.

Answer 5

Provides depth and detail
Creates openness
Simulates people’s individual experiences
Attempts for avoid pre judgement

Question 6

Name the weaknesses of qualitative data.

Answer 6

Usually fewer people studied - validity is compromised
Less easy to generalise
Difficult to make comparisons
Open to investigator effects

Question 7

What is primary data?

Answer 7

Data collected by a researcher from the participants in the investigation: first-hand

Question 8

What is secondary data?

Answer 8

Data that has already been gathered by someone else, other than the researcher

Question 9

What is a meta-analysis?

Answer 9

A form on research that uses secondary data - gathers data from a large number of studies investigating the same thing

Question 10

What are the strengths of primary data?

Answer 10

Can be gathered to fit the aims of the investigation
More accurate to what the investigator intends to measure

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of primary data?

Answer 11

It requires time and effort from the researcher
It requires considerate planning, preparations and resources

Question 12

What are the strengths of secondary data?

Answer 12

Inexpensive and easily accessible
Requires minimal effort

Question 13

What are the weaknesses of secondary data?

Answer 13

Substantial variation in the quality and accuracy
The content of the data may not exactly match the researchers purpose

Question 14

What are the strengths of meta-analysis?

Answer 14

Allows a researcher to view data with much more confidence
Results can be more easily generalised across larger populations

Question 15

What are the limitations of meta-analysis?

Answer 15

Prone to publication bias
Often have biased conclusions as researchers may leave out negative results

Question 16

What is the mean?

Answer 16

The average number of all values
Add up all values and divide by the amount of values

Question 17

What is the median?

Answer 17

The middle value of a set of data

Question 18

What is the mode?

Answer 18

The most common number in a set of data

Question 19

What is standard deviation?

Answer 19

A measure of dispersion from a results central mean value

Question 20

What is the range?

Answer 20

The difference between the highest and lowest value in a set of data

Question 21

What are measures of central tendency?

Answer 21

Mean
Median
Mode

Question 22

What are measures of dispersion?

Answer 22

Range
Standard deviation

Question 23

What is continuous data?

Answer 23

Data that can be measured and has no fixed value (e.g height)

Question 24

What is nominal data?

Answer 24

Data that can be separated into discrete categories and doesn’t overlap

Question 25

What is raw data?

Answer 25

Data that hasn’t been processed for use

Question 26

What is skewed data?

Answer 26

Where frequency data isn’t spread evenly

Question 27

What does negatively skewed data look like?

Answer 27

Data is skewed to the left Median is greater than mean

Question 28

What does positively skewed data look like?

Answer 28

Data is skewed to the right Mean is greater than median

Question 29

What does normal (no skew) data look like?

Answer 29

Graph is perfectly symmetrical The mean is at the peak of the graph The mean, median and mode are the same score

Question 30

What are the strengths and weaknesses of using the mean?

Answer 30

**Strengths:** includes all data so is more representative **Weaknesses:** distorted by extreme scores

Question 31

What are the strengths and weaknesses of using the median?

Answer 31

**Strengths:** won't be affected by extreme scores **Weaknesses:** may not still tell us what the most typical or frequent score is

Question 32

What are the strengths and weaknesses of using the mode?

Answer 32

**Strengths:** unaffected by extreme scores **Weaknesses:** can be effected dramatically by the change in one score

Question 33

When can the range be used as a measure of dispersion?

Answer 33

When you wish to make a basic measure of the variation within the data and the data is consistent

Question 34

What can standard deviation be used as a measure of dispersion?

Answer 34

When you wish to make a very sensitive measure of dispersion

Question 35

What is inferential statistic?

Answer 35

Analysing data using statistical tests to allow researchers to conclude if a hypothesis is supported by its results