Types of Data

• Types of data

  • Primary data
  • Secondary data
• Primary data

  • original Information that the researcher has collected first-hand from the participants for the purpose of the investigation
  • includes questionnaires, observations and interviews
• secondary data

  • Information that has previously been collected by a third party (another researcher or an official body) which may not specifically apply to the aim of the study
  • e.g. journals, books, articles
• Strengths: primary data

  • gathered first hand, therefore there is more certainty on how valid it is, as the researcher themselves knows the strengths and weaknesses of their own research.
  • If collected objectively, with careful planning and sampling, then likely to be scientifically gathered for the stated aim of the study. This means they are more credible
• Limitations: primary data

  • Expensive to conduct and time consuming because each researcher has to start from the beginning of a study and follow the whole study through, finding participants, organising materials and running the study
  • Limited to the time, place and number of participants etc., whereas secondary data can come from different sources to give more range and detail.
  • May be biased due to the researcher wanting to find certain results
• Strengths: secondary data

  • less time-consuming to collect as the research has already been carried out.
  • Can gather lots of data in a short time
• Limitations: secondary data

  • You don’t always know where data has come from and how reliable it is
  • Data can be over complicated and may be more difficult to understand
  • the data can be out of date so can lack temporal validity