Varying Types of Data

The Role of Data in Research Coursework
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Varying Types of Data
Data can be classified into two major categories: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative data is collected in terms of numbers and can be statistically computed. In quantitative research, the investigator gathers quantitative data applying diverse tools, including those that capture a person’s attitudes (for example, attitudes towards self-esteem scales) or individual performance (for example, aptitude tests). Quantitative data may also include biomedical tests, computer-based tracking data, and geographical information systems spatial data. On the contrary, qualitative data is typically non-numerical, nominal, or descriptive. It is collected in the form of sentences and words. The qualitative data form may be established before or during the research. Qualitative data types may be broadly classified into images (e.g., types of photos) or text data (e.g., words). These two basic categories can also be classified in terms of the information the researcher seeks to collect (Creswell & Clark, 2018). These include but are not limited to open-ended interviews (online e-mail interviews, one-on-one interviews, focus groups, phone interviews); audiovisual materials (e.g., photographs, sounds, videos); and open-ended observations.
According to Sileyew (2019), another data classification approach is based on how the data was collected: primary or secondary. The primary data is gathered from first-hand experience. It is yet to be published, thus making it more objective, authentic, and reliable. Primary data has not been altered or changed in any way; therefore, it has greater validity compared to secondary data. The key sources of primary data include experiments, interviews, surveys, and observations. On the other hand, secondary data is gathered from published sources in different forms. For example, the literature review section of any research is anchored on secondary data already collected by prior scholars. Although secondary data is collected by an individual for a specific purpose, it can be used to address the research problem or answer the research questions. Some crucial secondary data sources include databases, biographies, data archives, books, reputable journals, some management documents, and other statistical data (Sileyew, 2019).
Strategies for Obtaining "Best" Data
Data does not inherently exist but is instead created. When the research collects already existing data, it is likely that...