PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES OF DATA

Question 1

Definition of primary data

Answer 1

Data collected by sociologists on their own for their own purposes

Question 2

Why might sociologists use primary data?

Answer 2

a. To obtain a first-hand ‘picture’ of a group or society

b. To test a hypothesis

Question 3

What are some advantages of using primary data?

Answer 3

a. So that sociologists can gather their data precisely in order to test their hypotheses

Question 4

What are some disadvantages of using primary data?

Answer 4

a. It can be costly

b. It can be time-consuming

Question 5

Definition of secondary data

Answer 5

Information that has been collected or created by someone else for their own purposes, but which the sociologist can then use

Question 6

What are some advantages of using secondary data?

Answer 6

a. It is cheap usually

b. It is quick, as someone else has already produced the information

Question 7

What are some disadvantages of using secondary data?

Answer 7

a. The information may not be as relevant for the sociologist thus might not provide exactly the information that sociologists need