types of data

• qualitative data:

  • expressed in words not numbers e.g thoughts, feelings, opinions
  • allows development of insight into unique nature of human experiences
• quantitative data:

  • expressed numerically e.g scores of people, closed questions
  • open to statistical analysis + can be easily converted into graphs/charts
• qualitative data strengths:

  • broad, rich, detailed data
  • has opportunity to fully report feelings
  • greater external validity - more meaningful insight
• qualitative weaknesses:

  • difficult to analyse or summarise statistically - hard to compare/form patterns
  • subjective - relies on interpretation
• quantitative strengths + weaknesses:

  • easy to analyse + draw comparisons
  • more objective+ less open to bias

  
  

  • lacks detail - lower external validity - reality may be oversimplified
• primary data:

  • original data - collected specifically for purpose of investigation
  • involves: designing study, analysing data e.g experiments, questionnaires, gaining ethical approval
• secondary data:

  • data that has been collected by someone other than researchers - data exists for other purpose
  • includes data located in journal articles, books e.g stat info held by government, population records
• primary data strength + weaknesses:

  • fits the job - specifically targets info required by researcher
  • requires time, effort, money
• secondary data strengths + weaknesses:

  • inexpensive + easily accessed - requires minimal effort
  • content may not match researchers needs/objectives
  • conclusions may lack validity
  • substantial variation in quality + accuracy