Applied Computing

Lesson Objective: Review types and purposes of qualitative and quantitative data sources, methods and techniques for acquiring and
                                          referencing primary and secondary data and information.

Advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative data

Participants are more willing to be part of a quantitative study as it is less demanding of them. Often, quantitative studies use surveys, which can capture a large sample. Having a large sample size provides statistical validity, and helps to accurately reflect the characteristics, attitudes or views of the population. Data is interpreted, relationships are identified and findings are then communicated. Conversely, because surveys do not have a provision for probing the participants further, the answers provided do not have as much depth and are at times superficial.

Qualitative research provides for rich, in-depth studies of participants. Researchers can ask further questions, especially if something of interest arises. Generally, qualitative studies are small, and provide a narrative description of a sample group. Data-gathering tools can include interviews and focus groups. However, because the sample size is small and the sample is not very random, conclusions may not generalise readily to a larger sample size. Findings may be peculiar to a particular sample.

Primary versus Secondary Sources

Primary sources of data provide a firsthand account of a person, object, event or phenomena. Many of the methods and techniques outlined in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research are sources of primary data. Questioning them or surveying their opinions can provide different insights and more in-depth data than using information from secondary sources. The data will often be more up-to-date and can provide more unusual and important insights into issues, especially at the immediate local level, than secondary sources, which often present overall conclusions and general summaries.

primary sources: original, unprocessed data and resources; that is, information that has not been processed, analysed or interpreted in any way, such as interviews, speeches, emails, debates and meetings; primary data usually comes from stakeholders

secondary sources: sources of information that has been processed, interpreted or analysed in some way by other people, such as textbooks, websites, magazines, newspapers and TV programs