Edexcel GCSE 9-1 Psychology Topic 11 Research Methods
Types of data (pp. 161-162)
Learning objectives:
1) To learn the difference between primary and secondary
data.
2) To learn the difference between qualitative and
quantitative data.
Task 1:
Key terminology: try to write it in your own words! Try to draw a picture or a key word/phrase to help you
remember each in the right hand column.
Primary data
Secondary data
Meta-analysis
Task 2:
Answer the following questions:
1) Complete the following table.
Topic Researchers Name of study Primary or secondary
data? Explain why.
Development Piaget and Inhelder
(1956)
Gunderson et al. (2013)
Memory Bartlett (1932)
Peterson and Peterson
(1959)
Psychological
Problems
Caspi et al. (2003)
Young (2007)
The brain and
neuropsychology
Damasio et al. (1994)
Sperry (1968)

Criminal
psychology
Bandura, Ross and Ross
(1961)
Charlton et al. (2000)
Sleep and
dreaming
Freud (1909)
Siffre (1975)
Task 3:
Complete the following table.
Similarities Differences
Secondary data are not gathered for the
researcher’s purpose…
Studies using primary and/or secondary data…
Task 4:
Key terminology: try to write it in your own words!
Try to draw a picture or a key word/phrase to help you
remember each in the right hand column.
Qualitative data
Quantitative data

Task 5:
Explain two differences between qualitative and quantitative data. (4 marks)
Task 6:
Complete the following table.
Similarities Differences
Both qualitative and quantitative data…
Qualitative and quantitate data can come from the
same method at the same time…
Usually qualitative data is said to be less scientific…
Task 7:
1) Give two examples of studies we have looked at throughout the course that have collected qualitative
data.
2) Give two examples of studies we have looked at throughout the course that have collected
quantitative data.