UNIT 7

TYPES OF DATA
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA
• Qualitative data is non-statistical and is
typically unstructured or semi-structured.
• This data isn’t necessarily measured
using hard numbers used to develop graphs
and charts. Instead, it is categorized based on
properties, attributes, labels, and other
identifiers.
• Qualitative data can be generated through:
• Texts and documents
• Audio and video recordings
• Interview transcripts and focus groups
• Observations and notes
• Qualitative data examples
• To better understand qualitative data, let's take the example of
a bookcase. The following characteristics of this bookcase determine
the quality of the information that's available to us about it:
• Made of wood
• Built in Italy
• Deep brown
• Golden knobs
• Smooth finish
• Made of oak
• When discussing qualitative data, we talk about a specific object’s
characteristics. Qualitative data is derived through qualitative
analysis of the detailed information about the matter at hand. 
• With a bookcase, there are many ways to get different qualitative
information from different observers. If someone doesn't have
specific details on the bookcase, they can assume that it's made
of teak, not oak and that it has a rough surface, not smooth.
Likewise, we can also discuss what type of oak it's made of or
what part of Italy it came from.
• Thus, qualitative data identifiers can be subjective,
making qualitative data analysis a complex process with
numerous possibilities and structures.
 QUANTITATIVE DATA
• Contrary to qualitative data, quantitative data is
statistical and is typically structured in nature –
meaning it is more rigid and defined. This data type
is measured using numbers and values, making it a
more suitable candidate for data analysis.
• Whereas qualitative is open for
exploration, quantitative data is much more concise
and close-ended. It can be used to ask the questions
“how much” or “how many,” followed by conclusive
information.
Quantitative data can be generated through:
• Tests
• Experiments
• Surveys
• Market reports
• Metrics
• Quantitative data can be broken into further sub-categories.
These categories are called discrete and continuous data.
Discrete data
• Discrete data is just data that cannot be broken down into
smaller parts. This type of data consists of integers (positive
and negative numbers, e.g., -100, 10, 100, and so on) and is
finite (meaning it reaches a limit).
• A few examples of discrete data would be how much change
you have in your pocket, how many iPhones were sold last
year, and how much traffic came to your website today.
Continuous data
• Continuous data is data that can be infinitely
broken down into smaller parts or data that
continuously fluctuates.
• A few examples of continuous data would be
the speed of your train during the morning
commute, the time you take to write an
article, your weight, and your age.
UNIT:3
 Quantitative vs. qualitative research

• Types of qualitative research methods
• Qualitative research methods focus
on qualitative data collection methods to study
and observe a target audience and draw
conclusions from the data collected. This research
method relies more on subjective characteristics
determined by qualitative approaches.
• Here are some of the commonly
used qualitative research methods.
• Focus groups
• The focus group research method is one of the most widely
used qualitative research methods in data collection. A focus
group consists of a certain number of respondents (5-10) who
act as a cluster. You can send an online survey or questionnaire
to a focus group to get their feedback or opinion on a specific
issue and record their responses for quick data analysis.
• Forming and managing focus groups can be a complex and
costly process. It's used by companies that may want to launch
a new product to study the market and gain insight into their
target audience's needs, preferences, and behavioral traits.
• Ethnographic research
• Ethnographic research involves observing and
studying research topics in a specific geographic
location. This geographic location can range from a
small entity to a large country in the world.
Ethnographic research helps study cultures,
behaviors, trends, and pain points in a natural
setting. Again, this is a time-consuming and
challenging research method and cannot be limited
to a specific period. 
• Case study
• A case study is an in-depth analysis primarily
used in the social and educational sciences. It
can be done by any organization, large or
small, to draw a detailed inference on a topic.
A case study is also one of the most
straightforward but most time-consuming
research methods that involve data collection
from multiple sources.
• Narrative
• The narrative research method relies on developing or creating a story.
You put together a series of events and create a narrative around an
observed topic. This investigation method shows how a small entity can
affect a significant event and determine its relationship.
• Phenomenology
• Phenomenology is another research method that takes a specific event
or phenomenon into account for qualitative data collection. It helps an
observer understand how, why, and what phenomenon occurs and its
impact on the issue at hand. Phenomenology uses various data
collection methods, from documents, videos, interviews to visiting a
place, experiencing the phenomenon, and describing how it has
evolved and developed over time.
• Grounded theory
• Grounded theory focuses on explaining the
reasoning behind an event's occurrence. The
sample size used for grounded theory is
usually below a hundred subjects and
evaluates how something happens at a given
point in time. 
• Types of quantitative research methods
• Quantitative research methods, on the other
hand, use quantitative approaches for data
collection and analysis. It is a numerical and
statistical research method that uses numbers
and statistics for reasonable and definite
deductions. Here are some of the
common quantitative research methods.
• Correlational
• A correlation research method studies the
relationship between two or more variables
that are similar and interdependent. It shows
how one variable affects the other and vice
versa. Correlation research uses mathematical
analysis to analyze collected data. The results
can be presented in a diagram or generated in
statistics to complete the research results.
• Experimental
• An experimental research method is a theoretical research
approach. It focuses on a theory to distinguish between
right and wrong statements. This research method helps
verify an argument and is mainly used in the natural
sciences.
• Casual-comparative
• Casual-comparative compares two variables that are not
related. One is dependent, and the other is independent.
Also known as quasi-experimental research, it determines
the cause-and-effect relationship between these variables.
• Survey research
• Survey research is one of the most widely used
research methods in areas from education to
politics to economics and more. Organizations
use it to gather feedback on their products
from random respondents through surveys,
questionnaires, and other input methods. The
data collected is then analyzed to obtain
quantitative results.