Quantitative and Qualitative data

Quantitative and qualitative data Questionnaires can gather both sets of data, as can interviews. This is called a mixed method Some research only used one type of data Quantitative: Involve numbers (percentages, number of yes/no answers) Closed-questions are used to produce quantitative data Qualitative: ideas, opinions and attitudes Open questions produce qualitative data

Decide whether these are open/closed and what type of data is produced (qualitative or quantitative? How would you describe obedience to authority? Do you agree that everyone should have the same job? Yes or no? Rate on a scare of 0-5 (0=not at all and 5= totally) how much you agree with the statement ‘everybody should have the same job opportunities’. What do you think about people who discriminate against others because of their race? How happy are you? Please rate on a scale from (0 very sad to 5 very happy)

Strengths and weaknesses of quantitative data pg.287-288

Strengths and weaknesses of using qualitative data pg. 287-288

Methodological terms covered so far – recap to ensure understanding Terms about questionnaires: pilot study, Likert-scale questions, ranked scales, personal data, respondent, open questions and closed questions Types of data: qualitative and quantitative Evaluation terms: validity, reliability, objectivity, generalisability, and credibility Terms about bias in studies: social desirability, demand characteristics, response bias Terms to control bias: controls, standardised instructions Pilot study

Evaluating questionnaires as a research method We can evaluate questionnaires according to validity Construct validity: the questions must measure what they are supposed to measure Internal validity: no other variables (except the IV) could have caused the effect Ecological validity: uses the respondent's natural setting and results can be generalised to other settings. Predictive validity: results would predict a real life situation and Demand characteristics and social desirability

Evaluating self report as a research method Questionnaires can be evaluated by considering reliability If the questionnaire was carried out again, would the same results be found? Closed questions have forced choice answers- reasonably reliable Questionnaires are set out and repeated exactly (standardised) – this is a condition for reliability Open questions allow for opinions to be given- so are less reliable

Evaluating self report as a research method Objectivity/subjectivity Objectivity – avoid bias from the researcher’s own opinions and understanding Experimenter/Researcher effects must be controlled for i.e. tone of voice, clothes work or gender Subjectivity is to be avoided When gathering data When analysing data Credibility Data – credible when valid (true to like), reliable (found more than once), generalisable

Mini class debate Issue/debate: Psychology as a science Scientific research should be objective. The more objective the data the more valid it is Can we argue that questionnaires and interviews are scientific? Group one: Self report methods produce valid data. Group two: Self report methods do not produce valid data.

Complete this table using ideas and notes from the mini class debate Self report methods produce valid data Self report methods do not produce valid data.

Researcher effects

please define the following: Social desirability pg. 288 Demand characteristics pg.288 Response bias pg. 285 Independent groups design pg 285: Repeated measures design pg 285 : How would these effects affect the validity of the research? Provide an explanation for each term.

How to avoid researcher effects: Provide an example of a way you can avoid response bias when constructing questions for a questionnaire: How can we reduce the problems associated social desirability? Can we try and avoid demand characteristics?

Task Give one strength and one weakness of using self report as a research method (4 marks) 2 marks for strength 2 marks for weakness All A03 – evaluation