Teaching:TUW - UE InfoVis WS 2008/09 - Gruppe 09 - Aufgabe 1 - Types of Data (quantitative vs. qualitative)

All research ultimately has a qualitative grounding

[Donald Campbell]

There's no such thing as qualitative data. Everything is either 1 or 0

[Fred Kerlinger]

You can distinct between two types of (collecting) data: quantitative data and qualitative data

Main points

Qualitative

• Qualitative research involves analysis of data such as words (e.g., from interviews), pictures (e.g., video), or objects (e.g., an artifact).
• Data can be observed but not measured.

whereas

Quantitative

• Quantitative research involves analysis of numerical data.
• Data which can be measured.

---

More

some more detailed features of

Qualitative data Researcher tends to become subjectively immersed in the subject matter. Qualitative data is more 'rich', time consuming, and less able to be generalized. Researcher is the data gathering instrument. Researcher may only know roughly in advance what he/she is looking for.

vs.

Quantitative data Researcher tends to remain objectively separated from the subject matter. Quantitative data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses, but may miss contextual detail. Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or equipment to collect numerical data. Researcher knows clearly in advance what he/she is looking for.

---

Example: Oil Painting

Qualitative data: blue/green color, gold frame smells old and musty texture shows brush strokes of oil paint peaceful scene of the country masterful brush strokes

Quantitative data: picture is 10" by 14" with frame 14" by 18" weighs 8.5 pounds surface area of painting is 140 sq. in. cost $300

Example for quantitative data:

References

[James Neill] Qualitative versus Quantitative Research: Key Points in a Classic Debate, http://wilderdom.com/research/QualitativeVersusQuantitativeResearch.html
[Donna Roberts] Qualitative vs Quantitative Data, http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/ALGEBRA/AD1/qualquant.htm
[Peter Levine] http://www.peterlevine.ws/mt/archives/cat_press_criticism.html