Types of data and research

Types of data and research

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  Types of dataand research. Primary Data- when you collect the information required yourself through things such as surveys and questionnaires.. Pros Cons You can get what you want e.g. surveys or questionnaires. Have to the research yourself. Easy to do. Large scale of research can be time consuming. Quick and easy for small sample. May not get accurate results of what you want. You can get specific answers to what you are researching. Could cost lots. Secondary Data- Secondary data analysis saves time that would otherwise be spent collecting data and, particularly in the case of quantitative data, provides larger and higher-quality databases that would be unfeasible for any individual researcher to collect on their own. In addition, analysts of social and economic change consider secondary data essential, since it is impossible to conduct a new survey that can adequately capture past change and/or developments. Pros Cons You don’t have to do it yourself. May not have all the research you want. Very Quick. Might not all be correct? Free of charge. Information may be biased. Very easy to access. It may have been tampered with or not proof read by another client/peer. Qualitative Data- Qualitative data describes whereas quantitative data defines. Qualitative data is more specific and to detail as it gives you exact answers of what you are researching rather than just numbers. Pros Cons Offers flexibility as far as locations and timing, as you don’t need to interview a large number of people at once. Cannot quantify how many of your audience answer one way or another
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  Explore topics inmore depth and detail than quantitative research Cannot generalize your findings to your broader audience or the public in general. Often qualitative research is less expensive than quantitative research, because you don’t need to recruit as many participants or use extensive methods Quantitative Data- Quantitative data is data expressing a certain quantity, amount or range. Usually, there are measurement units associated with the data for example the amount of people, height or weight. Pros Cons When the survey involves a statistically valid random sample, the results from the sample can be generalized to the entire population if the response rate is high enough They have a limited ability to probe answers When the survey involves a convenience sample data can be collected and analysed fairly quickly People who are willing to respond may share characteristics that don’t apply to the audience as a whole, creating a potential bias Like qualitative research methods, surveys can be used as prototypes They can be very costly.