Primary and secondary data

    AQA
    GCSE

    Candidates must distinguish between primary data (collected first-hand by the researcher) and secondary data (existing sources). Analysis must evaluate these data types through the 'PET' framework: Practical issues (time, cost, access), Ethical issues (consent, anonymity), and Theoretical perspectives (Positivism vs. Interpretivism). Mastery requires assessing the trade-off between reliability (replicability) and validity (authenticity) in research design.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for precise definitions: Primary data as 'first-hand' (e.g., questionnaires, observations) and Secondary data as 'second-hand' (e.g., official statistics, media reports).
    • Credit analysis of 'Practical' factors: Time, cost, and access issues inherent in primary data collection versus the convenience but potential irrelevance of secondary data.
    • Reward application of 'Theoretical' concepts: Link quantitative secondary data (statistics) to reliability and trends; link qualitative primary data (unstructured interviews) to validity and 'Verstehen'.
    • Candidates must evaluate 'Ethical' implications: Informed consent and anonymity in primary research versus the lack of ethical control over how secondary data was originally collected.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for precise definitions: Primary data as 'first-hand' (e.g., questionnaires, observations) and Secondary data as 'second-hand' (e.g., official statistics, media reports).
    • Credit analysis of 'Practical' factors: Time, cost, and access issues inherent in primary data collection versus the convenience but potential irrelevance of secondary data.
    • Reward application of 'Theoretical' concepts: Link quantitative secondary data (statistics) to reliability and trends; link qualitative primary data (unstructured interviews) to validity and 'Verstehen'.
    • Candidates must evaluate 'Ethical' implications: Informed consent and anonymity in primary research versus the lack of ethical control over how secondary data was originally collected.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Use the 'PET' mnemonic (Practical, Ethical, Theoretical) to structure evaluation paragraphs for 12-mark questions.
    • 💡When evaluating secondary data, explicitly question the original purpose of the data (e.g., 'dark figure of crime' in official statistics).
    • 💡Always link the choice of data type to the group being studied (e.g., 'Primary data is preferred for vulnerable groups to ensure sensitivity').
    • 💡In 'Item' based questions, explicitly quote or refer to the data provided in the Item to secure AO2 application marks.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'primary/secondary' with 'quantitative/qualitative' (e.g., assuming all primary data is qualitative).
    • Failing to apply the method to the specific context in the question (e.g., discussing generic advantages of questionnaires without relating them to researching 'pupil behaviour').
    • Confusing 'validity' (truthfulness/depth) with 'reliability' (replicability/consistency).

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss how far
    Analyze
    Evaluate

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