Assignment

Primary data

Primary data is a term for data collected on source which has been subjected to processing or any
other manipulation. It is also known as raw data. For example: a data input sheet might contain
dates as primary data in many forms “31 January 1989” or today’s date. Over captured the
primary data may be processed and stored as a single format in this example. Primary data or raw
data has the potential to become information it requires selective extraction organization, and
sometimes analysis and formatting. As a result primary data sometimes ends up in a database
which makes the data to become accessible for processing and analysis in a number of different
ways.

Sources of primary data:

Primary research involves the collection of data that does not already exist, which is research to
collect original data.

Different forms are used for this:

a. Quantitative
b. Qualitative

Qualitative methods:

1. Questionnaires:
A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other
prompts for the purpose of gathering information from the respondents. Questionnaires
are cheap, do not require as much effort from the questioner as verbal or telephone
surveys and after now standardized answer to make it simple to compile data.

Types:
 Questionnaires with questions that measure separate variables, could include
questions on preference, behavior, facts.
 Questionnaires with questions that are aggregated into either a scale or index,
including questions that measure latent traits, attitudes, index.
2. Surveys:
Statistical surveys are the method to collect in a systematic manner information from a
sample of individuals. Survey provides an important information for all kinds of research
fields e.g. marketing, psychology, sociology. A survey may focus on different topics such
as preferences, Behavior of factoral information, depending on its purpose.
Several ways are there of administering a survey which are influenced by several factors
 a. Cost
b. Coverage of target population
c. Flexibility of asking questions
d. Respondents willingness to participate.
3. Laboratory experiments
4. Field experiments
A field experiment applies the scientific method to experimentally examine an
intervention in the real world rather in the laboratory.
5. Ethnographics

Qualitative

1. Interviews
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the
interviewer to obtain information from the interviewer.

2. Focus groups
A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked
about their perception, opinions, beliefs and attitude towards a product, service, concept,
advertisement idea or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting
where participants are free to talk with other group members.
Types:
1. Two way focus groups
2. Dual moderator focus group
3. Dueling moderator focus groups
4. Respondent moderator focus groups
5. Mini focus groups
6. Teleconference focus group
7. Online focus group
3. Participant observation:

Advantages of primary research

 Address specific research issues as the researcher controls the search design to fit
their needs.
 Efficient spending on information, primary data collection, focus on issues specific to
the researcher, improving the chances that the research funds are spent efficiently.
 Proprietary information, primary data collected by the researchers in their own.
Disadvantages of primary research

 Compared to secondary research primary data collection is expensive

 By the time the research gets completed, it may get out of date
 People may not reply if emails and letters are used.
 People may have to be employed or avoid their primary duties for the duration of the
research.
 Some research projects, while potentially offering information that could prove quite
valuable, may not be within the reach of the researchers.

Challenges of Secondary data Analyses

Secondary data does not permit the progression from formulating a research question to
designing method to answer that question.

It is not feasible for a secondary data analyst to engage in the habitual process of making
observations and developing concepts.

Data quality is a concern because its source may not be trusted in terms of methodological
validity and reliability.

Six questions that a secondary analyst should be able to answer about the data they wish to
analyse.

 What were the agencies goals while collecting the data

 What data was collected and what it is supposed to measure
 When was the data collected
 What methods were used? Who was responsible and are the present
 How is the data organized
 What information is known about the success of the data collection and how consistent is
the data with data from other sources.

Secondary data

Secondary data is the data collected by someone other than the user. Common sources for
secondary data for social science includes

1. Consensus
2. Surveys
3. Organizational records
4. Data collected by/ through the qualitative methodologies of qualitative research
Secondary data analyses saves time that would otherwise be spent collecting data, provides
larger and higher quality database than would be unfeasible for any individual researcher to
collect on their own.

In addition to that, analyses of social and economic change considered secondary data essential
since it is impossible to conduct a new survey that can adequately capture past change and or
developments.

Sources of secondary data

Secondary data can be obtained from two different research strands:

1. Qualitative
 Census:
It is a procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information
about the members of a given population. It is regularly occurring and
official count of particular country.
 Housing
 Social security
 Other related databases
2. Quantitative
 Semi structured and structured interviews:
A semi structured interview is a method of research used in social
sciences, it is flexible, allowing new questions to be brought up during the
interview as a result of what the interviewer says while a structured
interview has a formalized and limited set of questions
 Focus group transcripts:

A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people

are asked about their participants, opinions, beliefs and attitudes towards a
product, service, concept, advertisement idea or packaging

 Field notes
It refers to various notes recorded by scientists during or after their
observation of a specific phenomenon they are studying.
 Observation
Is recording of data using scientific instruments

Qualitative data re-use provides a unique opportunity to study the raw materials or the recent or
more distinct past of gain insight of both methodological and the theoretical purposes. Good
documentation cannot be underestimated.
Limitations of Secondary Research

 Secondary data may be general and vague and may not really help companies
with decision making.
 The information and the data may not be accurate. Source of the data must always
be checked
 The data may be old and out of date.
 The sample used to generate secondary data may be small
 The company publishing the data may not be reputable.