Methodology: Primary and Secondary Data

Question 1

Define ‘primary data’.

Answer 1

Data collected by the research first-hand that presents original thinking and that involves both qualitative and quantitative data. Often comes from interviews and observations.

Question 2

Give an example of where primary data would be used in clinical psychology.

Answer 2

In clinical interviews and questionnaires.

Question 3

Define ‘secondary data’.

Answer 3

Data from another research that is not collected first-hand due to already in existence, it can be retrospective data or data that is currently unpublished but is still another researchers. Often comes from publications and used in meta-analysis.

Question 4

Give an example of where secondary data would be used in clinical psychology.

Answer 4

In patient notes, medical records and diagnostic interviews.

Question 5

Why might a researcher use both types of data within a study?

Answer 5

To gain different perspectives and understandings and to compare current to outdated findings.

Question 6

How would a researcher using both primary and secondary data increase the validity and reliability of their study?

Answer 6

Validity
- They would gain rich, in-depth detail
Reliability
- They would be able to triangulate information and comapre

Question 7

Give 5 strengths of primary data.

Answer 7

1) High validity due to researcher deciding on the details such as how to measure in order to create objectivity
2) High reliability due to researcher deciding on operationalisation and so making it easier to replicate procedures if needed
3) High credibility due to data being more trustworthy as research knows exactly what data was collected and so any limits will be apparent and data is more current
4) High ethics due to researcher gathering ppts themselves and making sure they follow ethical guidelines especially in clinical due to sensitive topics
5) Researcher is obtaining current data and so findings are more precise and relevant to topic being studied

Question 8

Give 3 weaknesses of primary data.

Answer 8

1) Time consuming due to the researcher needing to start from the beginning and go through procedure and so impractical and expensive
2) Low validity due to researcher bias as collecting own sample as may look for things they want to fit it with their hypothesis
3) Limiting sample size due to collecting self and so harder to draw generalisable conclusions compared to meta analysis with secondary data

Question 9

Give 3 strengths of secondary data.

Answer 9

1) Not time consuming due to data already being in existence and easily accessible therefore doesn’t take as long increasing practicality
2) Fewer ethical considerations due to data being outdated with no guidelines previously and so researchers didn’t need to be as careful
3) Inexpensive due to researcher not having to pay to find data themselves as it is already in existence

Question 10

Give 5 weaknesses of secondary data.

Answer 10

1) Low reliability as procedure in retrospective studies may not be possible to replicate currently due to more health and safety policies
2) Low validity as data is already in existence and so no control over details on how the research was carried out therefore rendering it less relevant to purpose
3) Low credibility due to being already being collected and so may not know how data was obtained and so limitations will be unknown
4) Low validity as cannot be sure of any researcher bias affecting results as data was already in existence
5) Low validity as cannot be sure how subjectively the data was analysed in the studies