COLLECTING DATA I: QUANTITATIVE METHODSJohn Perry

OBJECTIVES

Identify quantitative methods Demonstrate the use of quantitative methods Contrast the advantages and disadvantages

of various quantitative measurements

QUANTITATIVE V QUALITATIVE

Quantitative: involving the measurement of quantity or amount

Qualitative: involving the measurement of quality

STARTING WITH THE BASICS

Variables Operational variables Hypotheses

Complete Worksheet 1

TYPES OF VARIABLES

Categorical / nominal Ordinal Interval level Ratio

CATEGORICAL VARIABLES

Sorts people or things into categories based on common characteristics

e.g. eye colour, gender The number of categories in each variable is

known as the number of levels

ORDINAL VARIABLES

Placing things or people in an order Ranking Shortest to tallest, youngest to oldest

INTERVAL VARIABLES

Assigning scores to people where the difference between scores is assumed consistent

i.e. the difference between 2 and 3 is equal to the difference between 5 and 6

e.g. many psychological measures

RATIO VARIABLES

Same as Internal level measurement but with a true zero point

e.g. height, blood lactate

SOME EXAMPLES OF QUANTITATIVE DATA

Physiological measures heart rate, blood pressure, weight, height, blood

lactate Psychological measures

Scores on questionnaires Let’s try some examples

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONNAIRES

Sports Motivation Scale Task and Ego Orientation in Sport

Questionnaire Perceived Motivation Climate in Sport

Questionnaire Competitive State Anxiety Inventory -2

SUMMARY

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

Give examples of quantitative methods What’s an independent variable? What’s a dependent variable? Explain the following:

Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio