Knowt
Types of Data
Quantitative data is numerical data e.g. reaction time or number of mistakes. It represents how much or how long, how many there are of something. A tally of behavioural categories and closed questions in a questionnaire collect quantitative data
Qualitative data is virtually any type of information that can be observed and recorded that is not numerical in nature and can be in the form of written or verbal communication. Open questions in questionnaires and accounts from observational studies collect qualitative data
Primary data is first-hand data collected for the purpose of the investigation
Secondary data is information that has been collected by someone other than the person who is conducting the research e.g. taken from journals, books or articles
Variables or data associated with numerical observations are called quantitative variables or quantitative data.
For example, you can give a number to shoe size so shoe size is a quantitative variable.
Variables or data associated with non-numerical observations are qualitative or qualitative data.
For example, you can't give a number for your hair colour (blonde, red, brunette). Hair colour is a qualitative variable.
A variable that can take any value in a given range is continuous.
For example, time can take any value, e.g. 2 seconds, 2.1 seconds, 2.01 seconds etc.
A variable that can take only specific values in a given range is discrete.
For example, the number of girls in a family is a discrete variable as you can't have 2.65 girls in a family.
Large amounts of data can be displayed in a frequency table or as grouped data:
When data is presented in a grouped frequency table, the specific data values are not shown. The groups are more commonly known as classes.
Class boundaries tell you the maximum and minimum values that belong in each class.
The midpoint is the average of the class boundaries.
The class width is the difference between the upper and lower class boundaries.
Types of Data
Quantitative data is numerical data e.g. reaction time or number of mistakes. It represents how much or how long, how many there are of something. A tally of behavioural categories and closed questions in a questionnaire collect quantitative data
Qualitative data is virtually any type of information that can be observed and recorded that is not numerical in nature and can be in the form of written or verbal communication. Open questions in questionnaires and accounts from observational studies collect qualitative data
Primary data is first-hand data collected for the purpose of the investigation
Secondary data is information that has been collected by someone other than the person who is conducting the research e.g. taken from journals, books or articles
Variables or data associated with numerical observations are called quantitative variables or quantitative data.
For example, you can give a number to shoe size so shoe size is a quantitative variable.
Variables or data associated with non-numerical observations are qualitative or qualitative data.
For example, you can't give a number for your hair colour (blonde, red, brunette). Hair colour is a qualitative variable.
A variable that can take any value in a given range is continuous.
For example, time can take any value, e.g. 2 seconds, 2.1 seconds, 2.01 seconds etc.
A variable that can take only specific values in a given range is discrete.
For example, the number of girls in a family is a discrete variable as you can't have 2.65 girls in a family.
Large amounts of data can be displayed in a frequency table or as grouped data:
When data is presented in a grouped frequency table, the specific data values are not shown. The groups are more commonly known as classes.
Class boundaries tell you the maximum and minimum values that belong in each class.
The midpoint is the average of the class boundaries.
The class width is the difference between the upper and lower class boundaries.
