paxzones.blogg.se - Validity and reliability in quantitative research proposal

Secondary data is found in print or electronic form, if the latter, on CD-ROM, as an online computer database, or on the Internet. The above definitions and distinctions can be described diagrammatically as follows: This distinguishes them from secondary sources which describe, analyse and refer to the primary sources. (York University Libraries Archival Research Tutorial)

Primary resources are the direct evidence or first hand accounts of historical events without secondary analysis or interpretation." "Primary resources are sources that are usually created at the time of an event. Rather confusingly, the latter form of secondary data is also referred to as primary source material. At some point, they may have been deliberately collected and organised into an archive.Įither way, such material is termed secondary data.

Created in a more informal sense as a record of people's activities, for example, letters or other personal items, household bills, company records, etc.

Deliberately collected and analysed, for example for some official survey such as the UK Labour Market Trends (now published as Economic & Labour Market Review (ELMR)) or General Household Survey.

However sometimes the researcher will use data which has already been collected for other purposes – in other words, he or she is going to an existing source rather than directly interacting with people.

Such methods involve the collection of primary data, and herein lies the opportunity for the researcher to develop and demonstrate the greatest skill. Much of this data will be collected directly through some form of interaction between the researcher and the people or organisation concerned, using such methods as interviews, focus groups, surveys and participant observation. What is secondary data & archival material? Primary & secondary dataĪll research will involve the collection of data.