What is data? (OR, OF METHODS AND MADNESS). Data is just information gathered for a particular...
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Transcript of What is data? (OR, OF METHODS AND MADNESS). Data is just information gathered for a particular...
What is data?(OR, OF METHODS AND MADNESS)
Data is just information gathered for a particular purpose.
MethodData Flavor #1: Primary Research Data
First hand – data gathered by the researcher through some sort of method
Yields both quantitative and qualitative data
Observation Researcher plans to look at a particular thing for a particular thing◦ Low impact research – presence only – no deliberate
interaction with living beings◦ Low impact or no IRB◦ Yields both quantitative and qualitative data
Participant Observation Researcher plans to look at a particular thing for a particular thing or for general understanding◦ Researchers becomes part of or joins the environment
◦ Most common when observing social beings, such as humans◦ Low impact or social sciences IRB◦ Yields mostly qualitative data
Interviews: individual Researcher talks to one person about a particular topic◦ Usually recorded◦ Core questions planned◦ Can allow improvisation◦ Can talk to many people◦ Yields mostly qualitative data◦ Soc Sci IRB
Interviews: focus group Researcher gathers particular people in small groups (3-7) to ask specific questions◦ Some room for improvisation◦ Usually recorded◦ Careful consideration for group composition◦ Yields basic quantitative data◦ Yields mostly qualitative data◦ Low impact or social sciences IRB
Surveys Researcher designs specific questions for participants to answer◦ Easy to administer, hard to design
◦ Qualtrics @ UF – access through e-learning◦ Can use a mix of text and image
◦ Minimum of 30 for any kind of reliability◦ Yields mostly quantitative data with some qualitative
◦ Always has problem of population and self-report◦ Soc Sci IRB
ExperimentalQuasi-Experimental
Prospective, planned method where researcher controls variables to extent possible
Measures participant behavior relative to a particular (independent) variable
MethodData Flavor #2:Secondary Research
Does NOT require IRB
Also includes “re-use” of existing data
Sources of secondary research
Any existing thing, structure, object, place, publication, data source!◦ Census◦ Art◦ Historical documents◦ UF repository◦ Other people’s data
Provides novel perspective!