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methodologies (types of data) - Coggle Diagram
methodologies (types of data)
quantitative
quantitative research gathers data in a numerical form which can be put into categories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement. this type of data can be used to construct graphs and tables of raw data
e.g. data collected in experiments, closed answer questionnaires, observations (tallies), content analysis (number of occurrences of categories)
+easy to make comparisons to other sets of data, e.g. experimental and control conditions, which can be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests- therefore conclusions are more scientifically objective
+unlike qualitative data quantitative can be easily replicated and assessed for reliability- numerical measured data is less open to subjective interpretation and therefore can be measured again by the same or other researchers
-may lack internal validity as numbers may over simplify reality, e.g. closed answer questionnaires using rating scales may not represent participants' true feelings- therefore conclusions may be meaningless
-some aspects of human thought and behaviour may be difficult to operationalise in form to be measured numerically e.g. feelings towards parents
qualitative
data which is descriptive rather than quantified or counted, therefore it is observed or reported rather than measured
e.g. case studies, open answer questionnaires, observations (description of behaviours observed), content analysis (converts qualitative data back into quantitative)
+may have high validity as qualitative data provides detailed information which provides insights into participants' true thoughts or behaviour, therefore meaningful conclusions can be made
+can represent all aspects of human thought and behaviour as it is descriptive. e.g. feelings towards parents
-difficult to make comparisons across different groups or participants as data is not uniformed and is often very complex, therefore it is difficult to analyse data
-unlike quantitative data qualitative data is difficult to replicate or be assessed fir reliability- descriptive data is open to subjective interpretation and therefore difficult to be measured again by the same or other researchers
primary
data which is collected or observed directly by the researchers from participants which is specifically for the purposes of the research study
e.g. data collected in experiments, responses to questionnaires, observations conducted by researchers, interviews carried out by researcher
+researcher controls the methods and tools used to collect the data, therefore they can ensure it fits the aims and hypothesis of their study
+as the researcher designs the methods used to collect the data, including controlling extraneous variables etc. they can ensure the internal validity
-as the researcher designs the study and collects the data themselves which can be more time consuming than using secondary data
-can be difficult, impractical or unethical to collect large sets of data for some behaviours e.g. national crime rates or number of mental health diagnoses across different countries
secondary
data which is collected by someone other than the researcher of the study and purpose was for something other than the aims of the study
e.g. government statistics, meta-analysis (combining data from several different studies), literature review, artefacts for content analysis
+quicker than collecting primary data as the researcher has not designed the study and collected the data themselves
+can analyse data which might be impractical or unethical to collect using primary sources e.g. large sets of data for some behaviours like national crime rates or number of mental health diagnoses across different countries
-as the researcher does not control the design of the methods used to collect the data, including controlling extraneous variables etc. they cannot ensure the internal validity
-the researcher does not control the methods and tools used to collect the data, therefore the data may not fully match the aims and hypothesis of their study