research methods - types of data.

Question 1

What is meant by “quantitative data”?

Answer 1

Value of data which is expressed in numerical terms.

Question 2

What is meant by “qualitative data”?

Answer 2

Non-numerical language-based data.

Question 3

What is meant by “primary data”?

Answer 3

Information based or collected directly from first-hand experience.

Question 4

What is meant by “secondary data”?

Answer 4

Information that was collected by another researcher which was for another purpose other than current study.

Question 5

What is meant by “meta-analysis”?

Answer 5

A process where a number of studies are identified which investigated the same aims/hypotheses and a joint conclusion is produced.

Question 6

What form is qualitative data collected in?

Answer 6

Written description of thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Question 7

What type of research uses qualitative data?

Answer 7

One that is exploratory and seeks to explain how and why a particular phenomena or behaviour is taking place.

Question 8

What are examples of research methods that use qualitative data?

Answer 8

• interviews.
• observations.
• case studies.

Question 9

What are the strengths of qualitative data?

Answer 9

• more richness of detail
  ↳ gives participant opportunity to report feelings, thoughts and opinions.
• high external validity
  ↳ provides more meaningful insight into participant’s worldview.

Question 10

What are the weaknesses of qualitative data?

Answer 10

• difficult to analyse
  ↳ cannot be summarised statically as it is difficult to identify patterns and comparisons.
• conclusions rely on subjective interpretations
  ↳ subject to bias.
  ➝ researcher may have preconceptions about what they are expecting to find.

Question 11

How is quantitative data analysed?

Answer 11

Statically.

Question 12

What are examples of research methods that use quantitative data?

Answer 12

• lab experiments.
• questionnaires.
  ↳ e.g. closed questions.

Question 13

What are the strengths of quantitative data?

Answer 13

• simple to analyse
  ↳ comparison can be made.
• objective.
• less open to bias.

Question 14

What is weakness of quantitative data?

Answer 14

• less detail
  ↳ difficult to represent ‘real life’.

Question 15

What is primary data collected from?

Answer 15

• questionnaires.
• interviews.
• experiments.
• observations.

Question 16

What is a strength of primary data?

Answer 16

• authentic
  ↳ been collected from participant themselves for purpose of the investigation.

Question 17

What is a weakness of primary data?

Answer 17

• time consuming
  ↳ requires planning, preparation and resources.

Question 18

What is secondary data collected from?

Answer 18

• journal articles.
• books.
• websites.
• statistics.

Question 19

What are the strengths of secondary data?

Answer 19

• inexpensive.
• easily accessed using minimal effort.
• saves time
  ↳ may find desired information already exists and so there is no need to conduct primary data collection.

Question 20

What are the weaknesses of secondary data?

Answer 20

• may be outdated or incomplete.
• may not match the needs of the researcher and their objectives.

Question 21

What occurs in meta-analysis?

Answer 21

No additional research is carried out.

Question 22

What is a strength of meta-analysis?

Answer 22

• allows researchers to create a large, varied sample which can be generalised to a large populations.

Question 23

What is a weakness of meta-analysis?

Answer 23

• prone to publication bias.
  ↳ when a researcher may not select all relevant studies and choose to leave out studies with negative/non-significant results which may mean the results are biased.