ACTIVITY 1

1. Explain what is data, it's significance and how does it differ from information.

The main difference between data and information is that data is raw and unprocessed while
information is processed, organized, and structured. Data and information are two words we use
together. Both are important for reasoning, calculations, and decision-making. However, there is
a distinct difference between data and information. It’s important to know that information
always relies on data.
Both data and information are important for decision-making. Data is raw facts or statistics,
and on its own, it might be meaningless. But information is the data that is processed and
structured. Information is easy to understand and provides a context for data. This is the main
difference between data and information. More importantly, information is always dependent on
data.

2. Differentiate quantitative data from qualitative data. Explain when it is necessary to

use the quantitative data and qualitative data.

Qualitative approach dwells much on acquiring rich, detailed, 'thick' and 'quality' data on a
phenomenon under study which requires extensive collection of particularly verbal and textual
data from researchers who have had great engagement (time) with informants. Thus, it takes a
great deal of time, patience and other resources in studying in detail the PERCEPTIONS and
ATTITUDES of people regarding issues under investigation. Thus, these cannot ideally be
undertaken using statistical paradigms. Thus, its data is efficiently gleaned via intrrviews and
observations.
Quantitative approach dwells largely on statistical data and analytical tools to draw conclusions
about the state of a phenomena under investigation. It is very appropriate when the researcher
is engaged in experimental research that employs laboratory inquires rather than perceptions of
persons to answer research questions.
Qualitative is said to be subjective while quantitative is objective though there are various ways
of reducing the subjectivity of qualitative researches.
Interestingly, using both means for a particular research yields the best results. The mixed
method approach with its varying types must be studied by researchers so that they will know
which of them best suites their research objectives. Of course, pure anthropological studies in
many cases requires strict adherence to qualitative approaches though responses can be coded
and translated into numerical values for quantification.
Personally, I think both approaches are not 100% in opposing sides of purely textual data
(qualitative approach) and numerical data (quantitative data). Yet, the greater quantities of each
of the streams of data as well as their analytical procedures used for analysing the accrued data
gives the distinctions.

3. Enumerate 5 examples of nominal, ordinal, interval , and Ratio.

1,Nominal Scale: Gender, marital status, religion, race, hair color, country
2.Examples of ordinal variables include: socio economic status (“low income”,”middle
income”,”high income”), education level (“high school”,”BS”,”MS”,”PhD”), income level (“less
than 50K”, “50K-100K”, “over 100K”), satisfaction rating (“extremely dislike”, “dislike”, “neutral”,
“like”, “extremely like”)
3.Examples of interval level data include temperature and year. Examples of ratio level data
include distance and area (e.g., acreage). The scales are similar in so far as units of
measurement are arbitrary (Celsius versus Fahrenheit, Gregorian versus Islamic calendar,
English versus metric units).
4. Examples of ratio variables include: enzyme activity, dose amount, reaction rate, flow rate,
concentration, pulse, weight, length, temperature in Kelvin (0.0 Kelvin really does mean “no
heat”), survival time.