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

From InfoVis:Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
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:

qualitative 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