Data collection

• Primary Data:

  • Collected directly by the researcher e.g. interviews, questionnaires, observations
  • STRENGTHS: Researcher has control over the design, more trustworthy (more valid if methodology is adhered to)
  • WEAKNESSES: Expensive , time-consuming e.g. finding participants, running study , limited number of participants 
• Secondary data:

  • Collected previously by someone else
  • Quantitative or Qualitative
  • Meta-analysis: statistical combination of multiple studies addressing a similar research question (same aim)
  • STRENGTHS: Lots of data available , can research the past / make comparisons over time 
  • WEAKNESSES: Subject to biases of publishers, way things are measured over time differs
• QUANTITATIVE DATA:

  • Numerical
  • STRENGTH: Easy to analyse
  • WEAKNESSES: Less detailed
• QUALITATIVE DATA:

  • Information / concepts
  • Strength: Detailed
  • Weaknesses: Bias , Difficult to analyse