primary sources

• What are primary sources?

  Data collected by researchers themselves
• What types of data can primary sources be?

  Qualitative or quantitative
• What must researchers check regarding primary data?

  Reliability, validity, and representativeness
• What does reliability refer to in research?

  Consistency of results across studies
• Why is quantitative data considered reliable?

  It can be easily replicated by others
• What is validity in research?

  Whether data depict the real world
• Why are qualitative methods usually valid?

  They provide a better idea of social behavior
• What does representativeness mean in research?

  Accurate representation of the wider population
• When are quantitative methods appropriate?

  In studies needing large-scale data
• When are qualitative methods preferred?

  When including a small number of people
• Why are questionnaires seen as reliable?

  They can be used in large numbers
• What do quantitative methods mainly identify?

  Patterns and trends in data
• What is a limitation of qualitative methods?

  They can't be produced in large numbers
• Why might qualitative methods be better than quantitative?

  They reveal insights not easily detected
• What do mixed methods help researchers avoid?

  Mistakes associated with qualitative or quantitative methods
• What advantage do mixed methods provide researchers?

  View research from different angles