Primary And Secondary Data

Question 1

Evaluation of primary data

Answer 1

+ more reliable and valid, hasn’t been manipulated whatsoever
- often a single source- may not provide whole picture

Question 2

Secondary data

Answer 2

Data originally collected towards another research aim, published before

Question 3

Evaluation of secondary data

Answer 3

+ may be drawn from several sources- help to give a clearer insights
- potentially less reliable and valid as it is not being used for original purpose

Question 4

What is a meta analysis?

Answer 4

Statistical technique for combining the findings of several studies of a certain research aim
Produces an effect size as the DV in order to asses overall trends
Examples: standard interview vs CI technique, Grootheest et al OCD

Question 5

Evaluation of meta analysis

Answer 5

+ combines data- identification of trends and relationships
+ helpful when similar studies are contradictory or weak- provide clear view
- different studies may be sampled differently- not truly comparable- conclusions not valid

Question 6

Peer review

Answer 6

Part of verification process where research is deemed to be scientifically acceptable
Consists of system used by scientists to determine whether research findings can be published
Independent scrutiny of research papers
Individual responses to diversify opinions/ not influenced by others

Question 7

What is primary data?

Answer 7

Original data, collected specifically towards a research aim

Question 8

Procedure following peer review

Answer 8

Reviewers report back to journal editor and highlight weaknesses/ problem areas

1) accept work unconditionally
2) accept as long as researcher improves in certain ways
3) reject and suggest revisions then resubmission
4) out rightly reject

Question 9

Ways in which reviews can be conducted

Answer 9

Single blind review: names of reviewers not revealed to researched
Double blind: both reviewers and researchers are anonymous
Open review: reviewers and researchers are known to each other

Question 10

Criticisms of peer review

Answer 10

Difficulty finding an expert in obscure research
Anonymity of the process; funded by organisations and occurs in narrow social world
Resistance to revolutionary ideas- controlled by elites, going against pre-bailing views or those against elites
Possible dangerous consequences of false/ unscientific research being accepted as true