types of data

• methodology

  the methods researchers use to collect data + the philosophy underlying the production of sociological data
• quantitative data

  data in numerical form
• qualitative data

  data that is not numerical
• primary sources

  sources of data produced directly by a sociologist conducting research
• secondary sources

  existing data produced by someone else
• what is methodological pluralism?

  the use of a variety of methods & types of data in a singular research study
• what is triangulation?

  the use of a variety of methods & data types to cross check that the results obtained by one particular method are valid & reliable