Using existing data
The large samples used in national social surveys enable new researchers to:
Avoid using probability sampling
Identify any bias in the question wording
Evaluate the inter-coder reliability of the data
Conduct subgroup analysis
Conduct subgroup analysis
Secondary analysts can selectively study a subgroup of the original sample. For example, within a random sample of the general population, you might decide to focus on married women under the age of 30. The ‘General Lifestyle Survey’ (GLF), one of many large data sets shown in Table 14.1 on pages 316 and 317, is one such national survey. Arber and Gilbert (1989, cited on page 310) isolated a group of elderly people from the 1980 GHS (the forerunner of the GLF) for a study on disability. Their suggestion is to use secondary analysis as an important adjunct to other quantitative methods.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 310
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 310
Conduct subgroup analysis Secondary analysts can selectively study a subgroup of the original sample. For example, within a random sample of the general population, you might decide to focus on married women under the age of 30. The ‘General Lifestyle Survey’ (GLF), one of many large data sets shown in Table 14.1 on pages 316 and 317, is one such national survey. Arber and Gilbert (1989, cited on page 310) isolated a group of elderly people from the 1980 GHS (the forerunner of the GLF) for a study on disability. Their suggestion is to use secondary analysis as an important adjunct to other quantitative methods.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 310
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 310
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Which of the following provides official statistics that could be analysed as secondary data?A. Local Government Survey (LGS)
B. Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS)
C. Dwelling and Furnishings Survey (DFS)
D. Rowing and Oars Survey (ROS)
The term “secondary analysis” refers to the technique of:
A. Conducting a study of seconds, minutes and other measures of time
B. Analysing your own data in two different ways
C. Analysing existing data that has been collected by another person or organization
D. Working part time on a project alongside other responsibilities
Why might secondary analysis be a particularly useful method for students?
A. It is relatively easy to do
B. It saves time and money
C. It does not require any knowledge of statistics
D. It only requires a half-hearted effort
Studying the official crime rate may provide unreliable data because:
A. Categories of criminal behaviour change over time
B. There is a “dark figure” of unreported and unrecorded crime
C. Police use their discretion to investigate some crimes and not others
D. All of the above
What is one of the advantages that official statistics have over structured interview data?
A. The researcher can conduct natural experiments in the field
B. They are completely objective and reliable
C. They have greater measurement validity
D. They allow the researcher to identify social trends over time
Which of the following is not an advantage of secondary analysis?
A. It immerses the researcher in the field they are studying
B. It tends to be based on high quality data
C. It provides an opportunity for longitudinal analysis
D. It allows you to study patterns and social trends over time
Why has the secondary analysis of official statistics been seen as an “unobtrusive” method?
A. It increases the risk of “reactive effects” from participants
B. The researcher is removed from the social settings that they are investigating
C. The data were originally collected for the same purposes as those of the current researcher
D. They do not intrude too much into the researcher’s spare time
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