data

Question 1

what are the types of data

Answer 1

• qualitative
• quantitative
• primary
• secondary

Question 2

what is qualitative data

Answer 2

• Concerned with interpretation of language
• Expressed in words
  E.g. description of thoughts, feelings and opinions of participants ; written account of what researcher saw in an observation.

Question 3

what are the strengths of qualitative data

Answer 3

• Offers researchers more richness of detail.
• Broader - gives participants a chance to develop thoughts, feelings and opinions on a subject.
• Therefore has greater external validity than quantitative; provides researchers with more meaningful insight into participants’ worldview.
• You can also convert qualitative information into numerical data. (e.g. placing data into categories and counting frequency)

Question 4

what are the limitations of qualitative data

Answer 4

• Difficult to analyse
• Patterns and comparisons hard to identify
• Conclusions therefore rely on subjective interpretations – so may be subject to bias (e.g. researcher may have preconceptions about what they’re expecting to find.)

Question 5

what is quantitative data

Answer 5

• Expressed numerically
• Gather numerical data in the form of individual scores from participants, e.g. number of words recalled in a memory experiment.
• Data analysed statistically and easily converted into graphs, charts, etc.

Question 6

what are the strengths of quantitative data

Answer 6

• Data simple to analyse so comparisons between groups easy
• Numerical data is more objective and less open to bias.

Question 7

what are the limitations of quantitative data

Answer 7

• Data much narrower in scope and meaning
• Therefore may fail to represent ‘real-life’ (low in external validity)

Question 8

what is primary data

Answer 8

• Original data collected specifically for the purpose of the investigation.
• Data arrives first-hand from participants themselves
• Data gathered by conducting an experiment, questionnaire, interview or observation

Question 9

what are the strengths of primary data

Answer 9

• Fits the job – authentic data obtained from PPs themselves for purpose of specific investigation
• E.g. questionnaires/interviews can be designed to specifically target information required.

Question 10

what are the limitations of primary data

Answer 10

To produce this data requires time and effort – e.g. planning, preparation, resources.

Question 11

what is secondary data

Answer 11

• Data collected by someone other than the person conducting the research
• The data already exists before the psychologist begins their research
• Data has already been subject to statistical testing, so significance is known.
• Secondary data includes data that may be located in journal articles, books or websites.
• Statistical information held by the government; population records; employee absence records within an organisation are all examples of secondary data.

Question 12

what are the strengths of secondary data

Answer 12

• Inexpensive and easily accessed
• Desired information already exists

Question 13

what are the limitations of secondary data

Answer 13

• quality varies
• Out-dated or incomplete
• Content might not match researchers needs/objectives