Secondary Data & Group Presentation Reflection

Secondary Data

Primary data is research that is carried out first-hand by the researcher themselves for the purpose of their own study. Secondary data is known as data of which research has already been carried out by a previous researcher and is used by the researcher for the purpose of their own study. ‘The second strand, the archiving and re-use of data, include the re-interpretation of a study by researchers … who did not participate in the original research study and who may be using the data for purposes different from those that motivated the original study’ (McLeod and Thomson 2009: 126). Researchers will use records of a previous study, for example the findings/results/conclusions in order to interpret them to use in their study. In some cases they are sued to support the validity and/or reliability of the study. Researchers use previous research in order to support their thesis making it a more valid case if similar findings are discovered and further the analysis of the previous study, ‘secondary analysis is simply a further analysis of information that has already been obtained’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 2).

Examples of secondary data range from statistical studies, to diaries, to historical books and any type of study carried out by a researcher in the past; ‘secondary data come in many forms, ranging from large statistical studies published by the government and other organizations to the unpublished observations of a knowledgeable observer’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 2). The secondary data collected can include both types of qualitative or quantitative, depending on the nature of the study. Which data is collected is based on the views of the researcher for the purpose of his/her own study.

 In primary research ‘the analyst is responsible for the design of the research, the collection of the data, and the analysis of the summary of the information’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 3) and the difference is that ‘in secondary research, the analyst enters the picture after the data collection effort if over.’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 3)

Advantages

One of the biggest advantages researchers face when using secondary data is related to time and money. Having the research already completed and the efforts of carrying out a study being done, means the researcher does not have to participate in the efforts of carrying out a study. The researcher is just analysing work already done. ‘It is much less expensive to use secondary data than it is to conduct a primary research investigation.’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 5) Furthermore if time is contained then the time spent analysing secondary data may be seen as more beneficial.  ‘If…time constraints are imposed on primary research, secondary research may provide higher-quality data than could be obtained with a new research project.’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 5)

Another advantage with using secondary data is that it allows for research to be validated. If similar findings are found then this shows truth in the subject being studied and so the validity of the primary research is strengthened as it is supported by the findings from the secondary data. This then relates to whether or not findings can be generalised. If high in validity then this means that the study can be generalised to represent a higher population.  ‘They also may provide a basis for determining whether or not the new information is representative of a population.’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 5)

Disadvantages

Like all research methods researchers are faced with disadvantages. The disadvantage with using secondary data is related to the effects of the researcher. For example the researcher who conducted the previous study may have different aims to the researcher and so the secondary theories may not fit the initial study entirely and flaws may be created within the findings of the study.  Also interpreting the study may be an issue as it may be difficult to fit the theories together. ‘The individual whose job it is to interpret the findings can potentially arrive at many different, even conflicting conclusions.’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 6) Furthermore ‘category definition, particular measures, or treatment effects may not be appropriate for the purpose at hand,’ (Stewart and Kamins 1993: 6) again causing a problem for the re4search analysing the study.

 

Ethical Issues

Analysing secondary data causes an ethical debate within the research method field for sociologists. ‘Reanalysing data and working with archived projects poses distinctive ethical challenges for the secondary analyst regarding context and what it means to enter into someone else’s intellectual project’ (McLeod and Thomson 2009: 167). The problem researchers are faced with is if whether or not the previous research is ethically sound, for example the main ethical issue is participant observation, have the participants given their consent for more than one study to take place with their views. For example the secondary researcher may interpret the finding to suit their thesis however this may not always be what the original participants intended to say. Secondary researcher’s use the debate of once consent has been given it should be needed when the study is used again as secondary research. There is no law against whether or not there should be consent given again but some researchers see it as being necessary as the aims of the second study may be different to what the initial study was. This is an on-going debate amongst researchers and consent is not taken for secondary data the majority of times it is used.

Conclusion

In conclusion secondary data is used in order for researcher to support their findings and to improve the validity of their study. Secondary data allows for trends to be found and for research to be able to be generalised to a wider sample. However there is concern around ethical issues and researcher effect. Consent is not given for the study to be used second time and so this may breach the rights of participant’s involvement in a study. Researchers may face problems when analysing secondary data as the previous research many have different aims to initial study.  Regardless of these disadvantages secondary data is highly popular and used by sociologists in order to create trends and generalised beliefs of changes to society.
 

Group Presentation Reflection

Our group presentation is aiming to answer the question and find out how important is twitter in relation to current affairs and whether or not twitter is useful when finding out news stories. We aim to do this by using primary research through a questionnaire. Additionally we are going to use secondary sources. (One of which I have blogged about in a literature review and another we have yet to find). For our group work we have included both primary and secondary data. The reason for this is because we can compare our findings with that of previous researchers and see whether or not twitter is actually useful in regards to finding out news; thus making our research high in validity.  We may face difficulties when analysing the secondary sources or finding appropriate resources as this is a common flaw for those using secondary data. However I am sure it will be useful in our final conclusions and results. Having previously completed a literature review of a secondary source it has become apparent that not all the information will be used and it has been difficult selecting what can be used and what cannot. I have blogged what information will be useful to us and which will not and so the useful information will be used in our study to support our hypothesis and answer our aim.

We will have generated both qualitative and quantitative data from our questionnaires and the secondary data and so we will have the benefit of finding a trend and explaining the reasons behind why twitter is useful in relation to news stories. By using both sets of data it allows us to find meaning behind why twitter is useful not just finding statistics that prove it is.

We are currently gathering the results from our questionnaires and on Monday we shall have these collated. Work has already been started on our poster presentation and I believe we are in a good place with enough time to successfully complete the research.

References
McLeod, J. and Thomson, R. (2009) Researching Social Change. Sage Publications
Stewart, D,W. and Kamins, M,A. (1993) Secondary Research  Information Sources and Methods 2^nd Edition. Sage Publications