Secondary Data Sources &
Secondary Analysis
Why consider using secondary data
sources?
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Session Objectives
• By the end of the session you will:
• Understand what secondary data sources are
• Using quantitative sources in teaching
research and issues to consider
• Understand some of the ways in which you
can use secondary analysis in student
projects
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Secondary Sources:
What are they?
Qualitative
Quantitative
• Research design and
• Design
methods
• Survey measurement
• Interview questions and
tools
transcripts
• Sampling details
• Diaries
• Survey data files
• Visual – photographs or • Official statistics
video
United Kingdom
European Union
Global
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
From Secondary data to secondary analysis
 Hakim (1982:1) “… any further analysis of an existing
data set which presents interpretations, conclusions or
knowledge additional to, or different from those
presented in the first report.”
• Can form either the main focus or simply the
background for research project.
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Forms of Quantitative Data
• Aggregated Data
• Sample Survey Data
• Longitudinal: Cohort or Panel studies
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Forms of Qualitative Data
• An emerging area:
• UK Data Archive ( previously Qualidata)
•
•
•
Textual
Images
Audio
• Mass Observation archive (Sussex)
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Advantages
•
•
•
•
•
•
Often a convenient data source – no primary research
required. Cost effective, time efficient
UK Data Archive datasets collected using robust and
reliable survey techniques
• Measurement tools
• Sampling
Large Samples (N)
Deposited research has undergone an ethical clearance
process
Undertake comparative research
Provides breadth: Use as part of a mixed methods
approach.
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Points to consider
• Topics available
• Coverage : geographical / population/subpopulation
• Timeliness / Timeline
• Longitudinal Data Analysis can be complex
• Sometime compromise is required …
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
So how can you use these resources?
• To provide background (broad) data that
helps inform qualitative (depth) research.
Aggregated Data
• To help you answer a new research question
– sometimes published tables but more likely
an analysis of sample survey data.
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
So here is an example …
• A student is interested in …
• To be discussed at the evaluation event
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners