Quantitative & Qualitative Data Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?

Quantitative data involves numerical data and is objective whereas qualitative involves descriptive data and an in-depth insight.

Name 4 methods which can collect quantitative data.

Lab experiment, observations using coding systems, closed questions/rating scales, content analysis.

What are 2 main advantages of quantitative data?

Can do inferential statistical analysis and can replicate the study to check if results are reliable.

What is 1 main disadvantage of quantitative data?

Lacks in-depth data and often only provides a snapshot. Signup and view all the answers

Name 3 methods which can collect qualitative data.

Unstructured interviews, open-ended questions on questionnaires, case studies. Signup and view all the answers

What are 2 main advantages of qualitative data?

In-depth rich and detailed data, allows for greater understanding of people's emotions and thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

What are 3 main disadvantages of qualitative data?

Can't do inferential statistical analysis, low internal validity, more chance of researcher bias. Signup and view all the answers

Name 5 main non-experimental methods.

Self-report, observational studies, correlational studies, case studies, content analysis. Signup and view all the answers

Name 2 self-report methods.

Questionnaires and interviews. Signup and view all the answers

What type of method is a questionnaire?

Self-report. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what a closed question is with an example.

A question which is answered with a fixed choice. E.g. Do you smoke? Yes or No. Signup and view all the answers

Give 2 advantages of closed questions.

Easier for statistical analysis, quicker for participants to answer. Signup and view all the answers

Give 1 disadvantage of closed questions.

The fixed choices may not contain the answer the participant wants to give. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what an open question is with an example.

Allows a person to give their own answer to the question. E.g. Why do you smoke? Signup and view all the answers

Give 2 advantages of open questions.

Allows participants to give their own answers, leads to in-depth data collection. Signup and view all the answers

Give 1 disadvantage of open questions.

More difficult to analyze quantitatively and takes longer to analyze the data. Signup and view all the answers

Give 2 general advantages of using questionnaires in research.

Less time-consuming than interviews, can reach a large sample. Signup and view all the answers

Give 2 general disadvantages of using questionnaires in research.

Generally a low response rate, participants may give socially desirable answers. Signup and view all the answers

Give 4 important considerations when designing a questionnaire.

Clear aim, short length, use previous successful questionnaires as guides, questions need to be clear. Signup and view all the answers

What method can be used to analyze open-ended questions?

Thematic content analysis. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Quantitative and Qualitative Data

Quantitative data consists of numerical information and is objective in nature.
Qualitative data provides descriptive insights and depth, focusing on understanding human experiences.

Methods for Collecting Quantitative Data

Lab experiments allow controlled observation and manipulation of variables.
Observational studies utilize coding systems to systematically categorize behavior.
Closed questions or rating scales offer specific options for responses.
Content analysis examines communication forms to quantify the presence of certain themes.

Advantages of Quantitative Data

Enables inferential statistical analysis to assess significant differences or correlations.
Replicable studies enhance the reliability of results, supporting objectivity.

Disadvantages of Quantitative Data

Provides limited depth, often capturing only a snapshot without comprehensive insights.

Methods for Collecting Qualitative Data

Unstructured interviews facilitate spontaneous and open dialogue.
Open-ended questions on questionnaires allow for elaborate responses.
Case studies provide in-depth explorations of specific instances.
Thematic analysis focuses on identifying and interpreting patterns within qualitative data.

Advantages of Qualitative Data

Produces rich, detailed information for greater understanding of emotions and thoughts.
Higher ecological validity, as it reflects real-life circumstances and experiences.

Disadvantages of Qualitative Data

Lacks the ability to perform inferential statistical analysis.
Lower internal validity complicates establishing clear cause-and-effect relationships.
Increased potential for researcher bias due to subjective interpretations.

Non-Experimental Methods

Include self-reports, observational studies, correlational studies, case studies, content analysis, and thematic analysis.

Self-Report Methods

Primarily consist of questionnaires and interviews.

Questionnaires

Classified as self-report methods, emphasizing participant self-disclosure.

Closed Questions

Fixed-choice questions promoting straightforward responses (e.g., "Do you smoke? Yes or No").
Advantages: Facilitate statistical analysis and quicker participant responses.
Disadvantage: Limited choices may not reflect participant true opinions, impacting validity.

Open Questions

Allow free-form responses from participants (e.g., "Why do you smoke?").
Advantages: Yield more valid responses and rich qualitative data.
Disadvantage: Complexity in transforming responses into quantitative data complicates analysis.

General Advantages of Questionnaires

Time-efficient compared to interviews, facilitating a larger sample size.
Ability to reach a broad audience, enhancing representativeness of results.

General Disadvantages of Questionnaires

Often suffer from low response rates, which can skew results.
Risk of socially desirable answers undermines the validity of data.

Considerations for Designing Questionnaires

Establish a clear aim to guide question development.
Keep questionnaires concise to maintain participant engagement and response rates.
Use successful existing questionnaires as templates for structure.
Ensure clarity and simplicity in questions to prevent misunderstanding.

Analyzing Open-Ended Questions

Thematic content analysis is a suitable method for interpreting qualitative data from open questions.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the differences between quantitative and qualitative data with our flashcards. Explore various methods for collecting quantitative data and understand key concepts that differentiate these types of data.