Using existing data
Why might secondary analysis be a particularly useful method for students?
It is relatively easy to do
It saves time and money
It does not require any knowledge of statistics
It only requires a half-hearted effort
It saves time and money
Since secondary analysis involves the use of data that have already been collected by others, the researcher does not need to spend time and money on data collection. This can make the method attractive to those with limited resources, such as students. This does not imply that this is the only method that can be used by students – far from it. It may be the case that some students will see it as an “easy way out” of doing their own research. Done properly, this requires a lot of time and statistical knowledge. The point is that it may not be possible for students to compile such an elaborate data-set as they may find in secondary sources.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 309
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 309
It saves time and money Since secondary analysis involves the use of data that have already been collected by others, the researcher does not need to spend time and money on data collection. This can make the method attractive to those with limited resources, such as students. This does not imply that this is the only method that can be used by students – far from it. It may be the case that some students will see it as an “easy way out” of doing their own research. Done properly, this requires a lot of time and statistical knowledge. The point is that it may not be possible for students to compile such an elaborate data-set as they may find in secondary sources.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 309
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 309
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The large samples used in national social surveys enable new researchers to:A. Avoid using probability sampling
B. Identify any bias in the question wording
C. Evaluate the inter-coder reliability of the data
D. Conduct subgroup analysis
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
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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