*Secondary Research Methods

Question 1

What is secondary data (SD)?

Answer 1

Information collected or created by another person for their purposes which can then be used by the sociologist

Secondary data allows sociologists to analyze existing information rather than collect new data.

Question 2

What are the sources of secondary data?

Answer 2

Sources include:
* Official statistics
* Documents (letters, diaries, photographs, reports, novels, newspapers, TV broadcasts)

These sources provide a variety of qualitative and quantitative data for sociological research.

Question 3

What is an advantage of using secondary data?

Answer 3

Using secondary data is cheap and easy since someone has already produced the information

This allows sociologists to focus on analysis rather than data collection.

Question 4

What is a disadvantage of secondary data?

Answer 4

Secondary sources may not provide exactly the information that sociologists need

This can limit the applicability of the data to specific research questions.

Question 5

What are official statistics?

Answer 5

Numerical information collected and used by the government and its agencies to make decisions about society and the economy

Examples include crime rates and educational statistics.

Question 6

What is a practical advantage of official statistics?

Answer 6

Many official statistics are freely available to researchers and the general public

This contrasts with privately collected data, which is often not accessible.

Question 7

What is a disadvantage of collecting official statistics?

Answer 7

Official statistics are collected for administrative purposes rather than for research purposes

This may lead to issues with data relevance and specificity.

Question 8

True or False: Official statistics are generally easy to access and navigate.

Answer 8

True

For example, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides user-friendly access to a wealth of data.

Question 9

What ethical considerations are associated with official statistics?

Answer 9

Official statistics are collected in the ‘national interest’ and help check the performance of public bodies

This helps ensure efficient use of taxpayer money.

Question 10

What is a disadvantage related to the ethical collection of statistics?

Answer 10

Collection of some statistics can have harmful effects

For instance, the introduction of school league tables has been linked to increased stress in education.

Question 11

What is the theoretical significance of official statistics?

Answer 11

They allow comparisons between social groups and regions, and enable historical comparisons over time

For example, the UK census allows for longitudinal studies.

Question 12

What are some criticisms of the validity of official statistics?

Answer 12

Crime statistics may be under-reported, and government recording practices can change

This can lead to distorted views of social issues.

Question 13

What do Marxist and feminist sociologists argue about official statistics?

Answer 13

They argue that official statistics serve the interests of elite groups and do not adequately address issues like corporate crime and domestic violence

This raises questions about the objectivity of data collection.

Question 14

What is secondary qualitative data?

Answer 14

Information that already exists in written or audio-visual format

This type of data is often used in content analysis.

Question 15

What types of documents are included in secondary qualitative data?

Answer 15

Types include:
* Government reports
* Newspapers
* Novels
* Letters
* Diaries
* Pictures
* Television
* Radio output

This variety enriches the research landscape.

Question 16

What are official documents?

Answer 16

Documents produced by organizations such as government departments, businesses, and charities

These are generally a matter of public record.

Question 17

What are personal documents?

Answer 17

First-hand accounts of social events and personal experiences

Examples include letters, diaries, and autobiographies.

Question 18

What is a practical advantage of documents and content analysis?

Answer 18

There is a wealth of different types of secondary qualitative information available

This diversity can provide rich insights for researchers.

Question 19

What ethical issues can arise when accessing personal or historical documents?

Answer 19

Potential ethical problems in terms of consent and data protection

Researchers must navigate these considerations carefully.

Question 20

What are Scott’s (1990) key considerations regarding document analysis?

Answer 20

Key considerations include:
* Authenticity
* Credibility
* Meanings
* Representativeness

These factors affect the reliability and relevance of the data.

Question 21

What is a challenge related to the authenticity of documents?

Answer 21

Parts of the document might be missing due to age

This can hinder the ability to assess its reliability.

Question 22

Why might the credibility of a document be questioned?

Answer 22

We may not be able to verify why somebody wrote it and what their motive was

This can affect the interpretation of the document.

Question 23

What problem may arise regarding the representativeness of older documents?

Answer 23

Many documents do not survive, and some are deliberately withheld from researchers

This can lead to gaps in available data.