Secondary sources of data

• What are secondary sources of data?

  Data collected and published by others
• What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative secondary data?

  Quantitative data is numerical; qualitative is descriptive
• What are examples of secondary data sources?

  Official statistics and personal diaries
• Why do sociologists use secondary data?

  It already exists and saves time
• What are some reasons for using secondary data in sociological research?

  Participants may be deceased or unwilling
• What are the two main types of secondary sources studied?

  Official statistics and documents
• How are official statistics typically collected?

  Through registration or official surveys
• What is one advantage of using official statistics in sociological research?

  They allow comparisons between social groups
• Why might official statistics lack validity?

  They may not measure intended social issues
• What is a disadvantage of using official statistics?

  They may underrepresent certain social issues
• What does the term 'document' refer to in sociological research?

  Any written text or media
• What are the two categories of documents?

  Public and personal documents
• What is one advantage of using documents in sociological research?

  They are high in validity and personal insights
• What is a disadvantage of using personal documents?

  Access may be restricted or credibility unknown
• How are official statistics useful in studying education?

  They provide data on achievement and attendance
• What can documents reveal about educational issues?

  Differences in achievement by social class
• What are some issues with using official statistics in education research?

  They may not capture all relevant data
• What is the purpose of the UK CENSUS?

  To gather demographic information
• How do sociologists use official statistics for policy-making?

  To understand trends and inform strategies
• What is one way documents can be used in educational research?

  To study gender stereotypes in schoolbooks
• How do official statistics and documents complement each other in research?

  They provide different perspectives on issues