Types of Data

Question 1

What is primary data?

Answer 1

• Primary data is information collected by the sociologist for their own purposes

Question 2

What are examples of primary data?

Answer 2

• Experiments
• Observations
• Interviews
• Questionnaires

Question 3

What is secondary data?

Answer 3

• Secondary data is information already collected with different purposes but it has been re-analysed

Question 4

What are secondary sources of data?

Answer 4

• Official statistics
• Documents

Question 5

What is an evaluation of primary and secondary sources of data?

Answer 5

Primary =
- Sociologist can have complete control over their investigation
- Original data due to no other option
- It can be expensive and time-consuming
Secondary =
- It can be quick and cheaper than conducting your own research
- It may be the only option available
- It can be collected for different purposes so therefore unsuitable

Question 6

What is qualitative data?

Answer 6

• This is information that is collected through the written word rather than numerically
• This allows a deeper understanding and a rich detailed account

Question 7

What are research methods that collect qualitative data?

Answer 7

• Unstructured interviews
• Open questionnaires
• Unstructured observations
• Documents

Question 8

What is quantitative data?

Answer 8

• This is information collected in a numerical form

Question 9

What are research methods that collect quantative data?

Answer 9

• Experiments
• Structured Interviews
• Closed Questionnaires
• Controlled observations
• Official statistics

Question 10

What is an evaluation of qualitative and quantitative data?

Answer 10

Qualitative =
- Deeper understanding
- Difficult to understand
Quantitative =
- Easy to analyse and interpret
- Lack of insight