7.3: Primary and secondary data

Question 1

A psychologist is investigating causes of offending. She interviews offenders who are in prison for violent crime. She asks them to describe their family and early
childhood, recording everything that they say. She also looks at information in the offenders’ court and prison reports.
Referring to this investigation, explain the difference between primary and secondary data (4 marks)

Answer 1

Application:
• primary data is gathered directly/first-hand from the participants, and is specific to the aim
of the study whereas secondary data has previously been collected by a third party
(another researcher or an official body), not specifically for the aim of the study, and then
used by the researcher
• in this study, the interview recordings are primary data – gathered specifically for the
purpose of investigating causes of offending whereas the court/prison records are
secondary data – pre-existing and not gathered for the purpose of investigating causes of
offending behaviour