1.2.1

Types of Data

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Quantitative and Qualitative Methods of Research

Social research can be conducted for a number of purposes, and it is these reasons that influence the choice of methods used.

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Type of research

  • Social research can be conducted for a number of purposes and these reasons influence the choice of methods used.
  • Some methods require the use of experiments to test a hypothesis (resulting in quantitative data) while those used to develop new theories often involve researchers observing social life (where the data is usually qualitative).
  • Researchers may also use primary or secondary data, or a combination of the two.
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Methodology

  • Methodology refers to the methods researchers use to collect data, as well as the philosophy underlying the production of sociological data.
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Quantitative data

  • Quantitative data consists of data in numerical form.
    • For example, the number of females and males passing an exam.
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Qualitative data

  • Qualitative data is any data that is not numerical.
    • Such as written description (filed notes), diary entries, photographs, recorded music or radio programmes.
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Primary sources

  • Qualitative and quantitative data can both be gathered from primary and secondary sources.
  • Primary sources are those sources of data that are produced directly by a sociologist conducting research.
    • Such as the results of experiments or the answers obtained from questionnaires and interviews.
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Secondary sources

  • Secondary sources consist of existing data produced by someone else.
    • For example government statistics, or the results of an experiment conducted by another researcher.

Methodological Pluralism and Triangulation

In the real world, many researchers will use a range of methods to collect different types of data, regardless of whether they are qualitative or quantitative.

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Methodological pluralism

  • Methodological pluralism refers to the use of a variety of methods and types of data in a single research study.
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Triangulation

  • Triangulation refers to the use of a variety of methods and different types of data to cross-check that the results obtained by one particular method are valid, and reliable.
  • This might include using qualitative unstructured interviews to check against responses to a quantitative survey.

Jump to other topics

1Theory & Methods

2Education with Methods in Context

3Option 1: Culture & Identity

4Option 1: Families & Households

5Option 1: Health

6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

7Option 2: Beliefs in Society

8Option 2: Global Development

9Option 2: The Media

10Crime & Deviance

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