Types of data | Research methodology | Lecture 3

By Zahra Javeed ( BS Biochemistry )

Types of research data

Data:

“Is the fact and figures” having meaningful information.

Types of research data:

1.    Basic research data

2.    Applied research data

The four common types of  Basic research data are as following;

1.     Observational data

2.    Experimental data

3.    Simulation data

4.    Derived data

1. Observational data

The data which is obtained through using the five senses is called observational data. It can not be regenerated. It is composed by means of methods such as human observation, open-ended surveys or the use of an instrument or sensor to monitor and record information e.g., if we have to measure the level of noise in any area we can not regenerate the same type of data  if  once it is lost.

2. Experimental data 

The data which is obtained by the means of experiment is known as experimental data. It is original form of data which is obtained as the result of experimentation in the labs. We can also regenerate it. Experimental data typically allows the researcher to determine a causal relationship and is typically project-able to a larger population e.g., the information obtained by the use of drugs on any animal is the experimental data.

3. Simulation data:

Simulation data is obtained by the operation of a real-world process or system over time using computer test models. In this we produce data by using the real time system  and artificial time system e.g., to predict weather conditions or to get any type of information we use computational and statistical tools.

4. Derived data:

Derived data involves using accessible data points, often from different sources, to generate new data through some sort of  alteration, such as an arithmetic formula or aggregation e.g., the data obtained regarding the natural resources using the population and area of two cities is derived data.

Types of Applied research data

1. Quantitative data

2. Qualitative data

1. Quantitative data:

It is used when a researcher is trying to quantify a problem, or address the "what" or "how many" aspects of a research question. It can be continuous and discrete. For example, it could be the numbers of 2nd year students of pre-medical, or the height of persons.

2. Qualitative data:

It describes qualities or characteristics. It is collected using questionnaires, interviews, or observation, and frequently appears in narrative form e.g., the different eye colors of persons in a population of 1000. It can be nominal and ordinal.we can convert the qualitative type into quantitative by using the statistical tools.