Types of data:

• What is Quantitative data?

  • Numerical data
  • Quantitative data may be collected through:

  > experiment

  > structured observation

  > questionnaire (closed questions)

  > correlation
• What are the strengths of quantitative data?

  • Easy to analyse using descriptive and inferential statistics so conclusions can be easily drawn
  • Conclusions tend to be objective and unbiased
• What are the limitations of quantitative data?

  • May lack detail and over simplify reality. Conclusions may therefore be meaningless and lack external validity
• What is qualitative data?

  • Non-numerical data
  • Qualitative data may be collected through:

  > unstructured observation

  > questionnaire (open questions)

  > interviews
• What are the strengths of qualitative data?

  • Rich in detail and provides a meaningful insight into reality. Conclusions are therefore likely to be meaningful and have high external validity.
• What are some limitations of qualitative data?

  • Difficult to analyse and draw conclusions. As a result, conclusions tend to rely on subjective interpretations. These are subject to bias, particularly if the researcher has preconceptions about what they are expecting to find.
• What is primary data?

  • Data that is collected directly from first hand experience
  • In the case of psychological research, it is data collected by the researcher for the study currently being undertaken
  • The data collected is specifically related to the aims and/or hypothesis of the study
• what are strengths of primary data?

  • The researcher has control over the data and can make sure that it fits the aims and hypotheses of the study
• What are some limitations of primary data?

  • Collecting primary data is a lengthy and expensive process
• What is secondary data?

  • Data that was collected for a purpose other than the current one
  • In the case of psychological research, the researcher might make use of data they collected themselves for a previous study, data collected by a different researcher, government statistics, data held by a hospital or another institution
  • Meta-analysis studies use secondary data
• What are the strengths of secondary data?

  • It is quicker and cheaper to access someone else's data
• What are some limitations of secondary data?

  • The researcher has no control over the data. It may not fit the aims and hypotheses of the study.