Data Types, Primary/Secondary Sources, Reliability and Validity
Before you collect data you have to know what kind it is and where it comes from. Learn the types of data, the difference between primary and secondary sources, and what reliability and validity mean.
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Before you collect data 📊
Statisticians do not just gather numbers. First they decide what KIND of data they are dealing with, and they judge where the data comes from. This module covers the types of data, the difference between primary and secondary sources, and two important qualities, reliability and validity.
Types of data 🔑
Four terms describe the kinds of data. Learn them first.
Primary or secondary? ⚖️
Data is also grouped by where it comes from.
Match the data type 🔗
- Qualitative
- Quantitative
- Discrete
- Continuous
- Data made of categories or words
- Data made of numbers
- Counted in whole values, like a number of goals
- Measured and can take any value in a range
Discrete or continuous? 🎯
The number of goals scored in a match is an example of which type of data?
- Discrete
- Continuous
- Qualitative
- Secondary
Reliability or validity? 💡
These two words are easy to mix up. Reliability is the consistency of results: if you repeat the method, you get the same result. Validity is different: it means the method measures what it is meant to measure. A method can be reliable without being valid.
Match the term 🔀
- Primary data
- Secondary data
- Reliability
- Validity
- Data you collect yourself for your own purpose
- Data already collected by someone else
- The consistency of results when repeated
- Measuring what it is meant to measure
Which are quantitative? ✅
Which TWO of these would give quantitative data? Choose all that apply.
- The height of each pupil
- The number of pets each pupil has
- The favourite colour of each pupil
- The eye colour of each pupil
From raw to grouped 🪜
An interactive activity.
Complete the terms 🧩
Data that is counted in whole values is _____ data. Data that is measured and can take any value in a range is _____ data. Data you collect yourself is _____ data. A method that gives the same result each time it is repeated is _____. A method that measures what it should measure is _____.
Spot the continuous data 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Which quality? 🔍
A method gives the same result every time it is repeated. Which quality does it have?
- Reliability
- Validity
- Primary
- Discrete
Classify the data 🧭
An interactive activity.
Explain the differences ✍️
An interactive activity.