Part A. Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis Quantitative data is measurable; often used for comparisons; and involves counting of people, behaviors, conditions or other discrete events. Quantitative data is typically used to determine the what, who, when and where of health-related events and is expressed in numerical form. There are pros and cons to consider when selecting quantitative data elements (see Table 7). Tools – Guides Selecting Data Collection Methods31
Table 7. The Pros and Cons of Quantitative Data Collection Pros
Cons
• • •
• • •
Compare data over time Leverage existing data sets Require little involvement from participants
Large sample size needed to make statistically meaningful inferences May require a statistician to analyze, depending on data scope Unable to provide contextual details that qualitative data can bring
Resources – Further Reading Questionnaires32 Secondary Data Sources33 Tools – Guides Evaluate the Quality of Questions34 Ordered Response Options35 Increasing Response Rates36 Using Incentives37
Collecting Quantitative Data Quantitative data can be collected through the administration of surveys/questionnaires, interviews, formal observations/ checklists, social media metrics and other secondary data sources (e.g., data from the U.S. Census Bureau or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Quantitative data collected through surveys can vary in mode (i.e., paper, online, telephone, in person) and question types (i.e., multiple choice, check boxes, ordered responses).
Case Study: Pre- and Post-Nutrition Education Class Survey Community: Kerman, California The City of Kerman Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department in Kerman, California, offers weekly youth nutrition education classes for four-week periods. At the first session of the series, a health educator administers a pre-survey to understand the current knowledge and understanding of the youth in the class about healthy foods and nutrition. This allows them to customize nutrition education content through the baseline understanding gathered during the pre-survey. After the last session of the series, the health educator administers the post-survey to determine how effective the class was for increasing understanding and knowledge related to nutrition. This pre- and post-intervention survey is an example of quantitative data collection and demonstrates how these types of surveys can demonstrate the effectiveness of an intervention.
26 | 2022 National Recreation and Park Association
