Types and Sources of Data

Primary and Secondary Data

Primary

• Information that you collect by conducting your own research.

• Primary data collected from people and/or organisations provides current information on a topic; however, it can also be biased, because the people or organisations surveyed might have one-sided views on the topic.

Secondary

• Information that you collect from another researcher or from a source such as a academic article, journal or online publication.

• Secondary data from print and electronic sources is easily accessible and can provide a range of opinions on a topic; however, these opinions might be out of date and might not reflect current views

Using both secondary and primary data sources will enable you to collect a range of views and opinions on your research topic and represent the overall picture rather than just one particular view.

Qualitative and Quantitative

Qualitative

• Research involves collecting non-numerical data to provide an explanation for something.

• This type of research enables researchers to obtain more detailed information about beliefs, feelings, values and attitudes.

Examples: questionnaire, interview, observation and case studies.

• Qualitative methodologies are useful when you want to:

  • Compare people’s opinions or idea

  • Present arguments for and against something

  • Illustrate the positive and negative effects of something

  • Support quantitative data studies

Quantitative

• Research involves measuring or collecting facts in the form of numbers and drawing relationships between facts through statistical analysis and experimentation.

• Quantitative methodologies are objective and reliable and less subject to bias than qualitative research.

Examples: structured interview, questionnaire and experiments.

• Quantitative methodologies are useful when you want to:

  • Show percentages or ratios

  • Compare numbers in text

  • Visually represent the amounts or levels of something in tables or graphs.

Individuals and Groups

Individuals

• People can be sources of primary data, which can be collected by means of surveys, case studies or observations. Examples include:

  • • People in a particular context, such as a workplace, school, home or sporting event

    • A range of people from all walks of life

    • People involved in a particular situation, such as a celebration, a community event, conflict, parenting or caring.

Groups

• Organisations and other groups can be sources of primary data, which can be collected by means of surveys, case studies and observations. They can also be sources of secondary data, which can be collected by means of literature reviews. Examples include:

  • • Staff of a particular organisation, such as nurses or childcare workers

    • Experts in a particular field, such as marine biologists or university lecturers

    • Particular groups within the community, such as families, young people or elderly people

    • Pamphlets or brochures produced by an organisation

    • Data previously collected by an organisation, such as by the Australian Bureau of Statistics or the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Print and Digital

Print

• Print sources can be used to collect secondary data by means of literature reviews. Examples include:

  • • Newspaper articles

    • Books, including biographies and autobiographies

    • Journals

    • Magazines

    • Research reports

Digital

• Electronic sources can be used to collect secondary data in the form of electronic publications and case studies. They can also be used to collect primary data through observation. Examples include:

  • • Websites

    • TV programs

    • Videos

    • DVDs

    • CD-ROMS

    • Radio programs

1. How do quantitative and qualitative methods of research differ? (4 marks) (2013)

2. Describe how quantitative data can be presented (3 marks) (2013)

3. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of gathering data for research from both print sources and from individuals/ groups (8 marks) (adapted from 2010)