types of data

• 2 types of data?

  1. quantitative
  2. qualitative
• explain quantitative data?

  numerical data that is non descriptive

  eg closed questions
• explain qualitative data?

  non numerical that is descriptive

  collected in case studies

  open questions produce this data
• 3 strengths of quantitative data?

  1. easier to analyse
  2. more objective - researcher does not need to interpret responses so can increase reliability as its easier to compare data
  3. high internal validity - data is less subjective & so there is higher chance that they are measuring what they intend to measure
• 1 weakness of quantitative data?

  less meaningful - does not accurately reflect real life & therefore has lower ecological validity
• 2 strengths of qualitative data?

  1. research is more detailed & in depth - researcher can get greater understanding of human behaviour
  2. high ecological validity - gives us more meaningful insight to participants experiences
• 2 weaknesses of qualitative data?

  1. difficult & time consuming to analyse
  2. subjective - open to interpretation, leads to researcher bias as researcher is looking for patterns & trends in data based on what they expect to find
• explain primary data?

  refers to original data that has been collected first hand by researcher specifically towards a research aim

  this is data which has not been published before
• one strength of primary data?

  more valid - has been specifcally created for purpose of hypothesis & has been controlled
• one weakness of primary data?

  time consuming - expensive & time consuming to conduct
• one strength of secondary data?

  cheap & quick to use
• one weakness of secondary data?

  less valid - it might not fit needs of hypothesis exactly
• 2 ways to gather data?

  1. primary
  2. secondary
• explain secondary data?

  refers to pre existing data towards another research aim which has been published before