Advantages of using secondary data are that they are easily accessible and cheap to use. Disadvantages include that they may be out of date or unreliable. Quantitative data = numerical data, statistics etc Qualitative data = data expressed in words SURVEYS /QUESTIONNAIRES– a printed list of questions. Usually contain closed questions which require short answers or pre-coded questions which give a list of answers for the respondent to choose from. (Surveys conducted on a large, representative sample are also known as ‘opinion polls’) Strengths Weaknesses Can be used with a large sample – Respondents may misunderstand questions reliable data Quick and easy for respondent to Pre-coded questions may ‘force’ a respondent to complete pick an answer that does not accurately reflect – their views data will lack validity – Can be anonymous more truthful, Data may lack detail valid data Produces quantitative data, to Postal questionnaires have a low response rate analyse – Cheap People may lie no way of knowing INTERVIEWS– a face to face, question and answer session. Structured or formal interviews – based on a standardised interview schdeule (list of questions) Unstructured or informal interview – based on open questions which require a long, detailed answer , more flexible, more use of follow-up questions. More relaxed, interviewer can create a relationship of trust, make the interviewee relaxed etc to get more detail. Truthful, detailed answers = valid data Strengths Weaknesses More flexible than surveys Interviewer bias when interviewer affects the answers – (either because of how they respond, or their age/sex/appearance etc) Body language etc can be seen Time consuming Allow the interviewee to be more open and honest Depends on a skilled interviewer – valid data
Advantages of using secondary data are that they are easily accessible and cheap to use. Disadvantages include that they may be out of date or unreliable. Quantitative data = numerical data, statistics etc Qualitative data = data expressed in words SURVEYS /QUESTIONNAIRES– a printed list of questions. Usually contain closed questions which require short answers or pre-coded questions which give a list of answers for the respondent to choose from. (Surveys conducted on a large, representative sample are also known as ‘opinion polls’) Strengths Weaknesses Can be used with a large sample – reliable data Respondents may misunderstand questions Quick and easy for respondent to complete Pre-coded questions may ‘force’ a respondent to pick an answer that does not accurately reflect their views – data will lack validity Can be anonymous – more truthful, valid data Data may lack detail Produces quantitative data, to analyse Postal questionnaires have a low response rate Cheap People may lie – no way of knowing INTERVIEWS– a face to face, question and answer session. Structured or formal interviews – based on a standardised interview schdeule (list of questions) Unstructured or informal interview – based on open questions which require a long, detailed answer , more flexible, more use of follow-up questions. More relaxed, interviewer can create a relationship of trust, make the interviewee relaxed etc to get more detail. Truthful, detailed answers = valid data Strengths Weaknesses More flexible than surveys Interviewer bias – when interviewer affects the answers (either because of how they respond, or their age/sex/appearance etc) Body language etc can be seen Time consuming Allow the interviewee to be more open and honest – valid data Depends on a skilled interviewer
1.-STUDYING-SOCIETY-REVISION-PACK-2016-with-exam.docx