qualitative data
What qualitative data means in Psychology A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of qualitative data
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Reference: AQA
Recorded as words, images or meanings, it is rich and has greater external validity, yet what it means depends on the researcher reading it, so it invites bias and resists summary.
Material expressed in words or images that carries meaning, such as what a participant said in an interview, an answer to an open question or a diary entry.
Often extensive information, such as interview transcripts or media articles, that researchers must categorise into meaningful units.
Non-numerical data, in words or images, analysed by drawing out themes.
Topics that use qualitative data
- Data handling and analysis (AQA A-Level)
- Handling data (AQA A-Level)
- D.1 – handling data (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- co-variables
- levels of measurement
- Meta-analysis
- normal distribution
- primary data
- quantitative data
- secondary data
- central tendency
Using qualitative data in the exam
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