Question 1

Processing and analysing information turns it into useful data.

Accepted Answer

Processing and analyzing information turns it into useful insights or knowledge, not data. Data is the raw input that is processed and analyzed.

Question 2

What do graphs, charts and statistics help researchers do with their data?
A) Present their findings
B) Describe relationships between variables
C) Examine trends in the data
D) All of these

Accepted Answer

Graphs, charts, and statistics help researchers present their findings, describe relationships between variables, and examine trends in the data, making all options correct.

Question 3

Which of these is NOT a type of quantitative data?
A) Narrative accounts
B) House prices
C) Frequency of employee sick days
D) Percentage of satisfied customers

Accepted Answer

Narrative accounts are qualitative data, as they consist of descriptive information rather than numerical values.

Question 4

Which of the following is the most important element of quantitative data analysis in a student project?
A) Complex modelling
B) Using appropriate statistics
C) Understanding formulae
D) Using a large number of statistical tests

Accepted Answer

Using appropriate statistics is the most important element of quantitative data analysis in a student project because it allows the researcher to draw valid conclusions from the data.

Question 5

Data whose values cannot be measured numerically but can be classified into descriptive sets or placed in rank order are called ________ data.
A) Categorical
B) Qualitative
C) Interval
D) Ratio

Accepted Answer

Categorical data refers to data that can be divided into groups or categories that are descriptive in nature, such as labels or names, and cannot be measured numerically.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a type of categorical data?
A) Dichotomous
B) Nominal
C) Ordinal
D) Discrete

Accepted Answer

Discrete data is a type of quantitative data, not categorical.

Question 7

Numerical data for which you cannot state the relative difference between values are called ________ data.
A) Ratio
B) Ordinal
C) Interval
D) Nominal

Accepted Answer

Interval data have meaningful differences between values, but no true zero point, so you cannot state relative differences.

Question 8

"A travel company decides to halve its advertising spend from ò.5 million to ñ.25 million a year during a recession." What type of data are being described here?
A) Ratio
B) Interval
C) Ordinal
D) Nominal

Accepted Answer

Ratio data is data that can be expressed as a ratio of two numbers. In this case, the advertising spend is expressed as a ratio of 0.5 million to 0.25 million.

Question 9

What is a 'data matrix'?
A) A coding schedule
B) A plan of analysis
C) A table of cases and variables
D) A list of data types

Accepted Answer

A data matrix is a table that organizes data into rows and columns, where rows typically represent cases or observations and columns represent variables.

Question 10

Data is usually entered into quantitative analysis software by representing the response for each variable for each case by a series of codes.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative analysis software often uses numerical codes to represent responses, allowing for efficient data entry and analysis.

Question 11

What is a 'code' in the context of quantitative data analysis of questionnaires?
A) An identifier for each member of the sample
B) A number used to represent a respondent's answer
C) A self-memo the researcher has made
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

A code is a number used to represent a respondent's answer.

Question 12

Why is it a good idea to use an existing coding scheme for your data if one is available?
A) It allows you to compare your data to other surveys
B) It allows you to be more flexible
C) It means your responses are more accurate
D) It will ensure you use the correct statistical test

Accepted Answer

Using an existing coding scheme allows for comparability with other surveys, facilitating broader analysis and understanding within the context of existing research.

Question 13

Which of these is NOT a possible reason for missing data?
A) Data were not required from the respondent
B) Refusal to answer
C) Non-completion of an item implies an answer
D) An unclear answer

Accepted Answer

Non-completion of an item does not imply an answer; it indicates missing data.

Question 14

Sam has included an open question on her questionnaire asking respondents to explain their reasons for choosing a brand of lager. This data are likely to be coded ________.
A) Before collection
B) During collection
C) Twice
D) After collection

Accepted Answer

Open-ended responses are typically coded after collection to categorize and analyze the qualitative data effectively.

Question 15

What is a 'codebook'?
A) An explanatory record of the labels you have assigned to responses
B) A pre-existing scheme from previously published research
C) The name of a software package
D) The marking criteria from your tutor

Accepted Answer

A codebook is a document used in research that explains the coding scheme used for categorizing responses, including the labels and their meanings.

Question 16

Why might a researcher want to weight the cases in their dataset?
A) To make up for missing data
B) To avoid under-representation in stratified samples
C) To attach significance to the most important data
D) To increase response rates

Accepted Answer

Weighting cases in a dataset is often used to ensure that the sample accurately represents the population, especially in stratified samples where some groups might be under-represented.

Question 17

A good way to begin quantitative data analysis is to produce diagrams and tables for individual cases.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative data analysis typically begins with summarizing data using descriptive statistics, not focusing on individual cases. Diagrams and tables are used to visualize data trends and patterns for the entire dataset.

Question 18

Fiona has obtained data on the number of 2nd year students who have debts of less than õ000 and the number of students who have debts of õ000 or more. Which diagram or table would be best to show these data so that specific numbers can be read easily?
A) Histogram
B) Bar chart
C) Multiple line graph
D) Cross tabulation

Accepted Answer

Cross tabulation is best for displaying specific numbers in categories, such as students with debts below or above a certain amount.

Question 19

Alexis needs to identify the point at which falling sales revenues are matched by rising costs. Which diagram would be most appropriate for her to use?
A) Multiple line graph
B) Pie chart
C) Histogram
D) Any of these

Accepted Answer

A multiple line graph is appropriate for identifying the point where two variables, such as sales revenues and costs, intersect.

Question 20

Which of the following diagrams is most suitable for showing precise highest and lowest values of continuous data?
A) Bar chart
B) Pictogram
C) Histogram
D) Line graph

Accepted Answer

Histogram is a graphical representation of the distribution of data. It is a type of bar chart that shows the frequency of occurrence of different values in a dataset. The height of each bar in a histogram represents the number of data points that fall within a particular range of values. Histograms are often used to show the distribution of continuous data, such as the heights of people or the weights of animals.

Quiz 12: Analysing Quantitative Data

Processing and analysing information turns it into useful data.

What do graphs, charts and statistics help researchers do with their data?

Which of these is NOT a type of quantitative data?

Which of the following is the most important element of quantitative data analysis in a student project?

Data whose values cannot be measured numerically but can be classified into descriptive sets or placed in rank order are called ________ data.

Which of the following is NOT a type of categorical data?

Numerical data for which you cannot state the relative difference between values are called ________ data.

"A travel company decides to halve its advertising spend from ò.5 million to ñ.25 million a year during a recession." What type of data are being described here?

What is a 'data matrix'?

Data is usually entered into quantitative analysis software by representing the response for each variable for each case by a series of codes.

What is a 'code' in the context of quantitative data analysis of questionnaires?

Why is it a good idea to use an existing coding scheme for your data if one is available?

Which of these is NOT a possible reason for missing data?

Sam has included an open question on her questionnaire asking respondents to explain their reasons for choosing a brand of lager. This data are likely to be coded ________.

What is a 'codebook'?

Why might a researcher want to weight the cases in their dataset?

A good way to begin quantitative data analysis is to produce diagrams and tables for individual cases.

Fiona has obtained data on the number of 2nd year students who have debts of less than õ000 and the number of students who have debts of õ000 or more. Which diagram or table would be best to show these data so that specific numbers can be read easily?

Alexis needs to identify the point at which falling sales revenues are matched by rising costs. Which diagram would be most appropriate for her to use?

Which of the following diagrams is most suitable for showing precise highest and lowest values of continuous data?