C3549229
Explain the differences between primary and secondary data. What advantages does data gathering
using secondary sources have over conducting interviews? Explain with examples.
This essay intends to explore the differences between primary and secondary data by first
establishing the two types of data gathering which researchers use to collect primary and secondary
data. I will demonstrate an understanding of the way in which data gathering using secondary
sources has over conducting interviews through looking at the way in which data can be gathered
and the way that researchers are able to conduct their research through carefully selecting data
which is relevant to their topic.
In order to look at the differences between primary and secondary data, it is important to gain
an understanding of this type of data gathering. Primary data is the collection of data which is
collected from first- hand sources (Statistics How To, 2018). This type of research involves gathering
raw data which is specific to the needs of the researcher and is carried out by the researcher by
communicating with people who are familiar with the research subject (Key Differences, 2019). This
allows the researcher to collect primary data which is specific to the topic being researched and does
not invalidate the research as the data was gathered first-hand (Word Press, n.d). It is important to
gather primary and secondary data as it allows the researcher to gather evidence which is relevant
to the research. Secondary sources is a term used to describe the way in which a source other than
the main source is used to gather data and can be seen as the way in which a document draws on
one or more primary sources which can be analysed and interpreted (Your Dictionary, 2019).
Primary data can be described as the way in which a researcher gathers research which can be
collected mainly through research methods such as surveys, interviews and participant observation
(McNeill and Chapman, 2005). When collecting primary data, it is important for the researcher to
ensure reliability, this means that if the research was to be carried out by another person the same
results would be collected (McNeill and Chapman, 2005). Another way that the researcher should
maintain consistency within the research collected is through ensuring validity, this is the way in
which researchers are able to measure whether the data that is being collected is a true picture of
what is being studied (McNeill and Chapman, 2005). Collecting primary data can be seen as the way
in which researchers can gather data which is relevant to their topic through finding research
methods which will prove to be effective whilst attempting to understand the way in which research
methods prove to be useful. This can be demonstrated through the way in which primary data is
collected as this can impact the choice of the research topic, as this can influence the way in which
the interests and the values of the researcher are comparable; sometimes the choice of topic can be
affected due to the funding of the research as some researchers may not be carry out their research
Explain the differences between primary and secondary data. What advantages does data gathering
using secondary sources have over conducting interviews? Explain with examples.
This essay intends to explore the differences between primary and secondary data by first
establishing the two types of data gathering which researchers use to collect primary and secondary
data. I will demonstrate an understanding of the way in which data gathering using secondary
sources has over conducting interviews through looking at the way in which data can be gathered
and the way that researchers are able to conduct their research through carefully selecting data
which is relevant to their topic.
In order to look at the differences between primary and secondary data, it is important to gain
an understanding of this type of data gathering. Primary data is the collection of data which is
collected from first- hand sources (Statistics How To, 2018). This type of research involves gathering
raw data which is specific to the needs of the researcher and is carried out by the researcher by
communicating with people who are familiar with the research subject (Key Differences, 2019). This
allows the researcher to collect primary data which is specific to the topic being researched and does
not invalidate the research as the data was gathered first-hand (Word Press, n.d). It is important to
gather primary and secondary data as it allows the researcher to gather evidence which is relevant
to the research. Secondary sources is a term used to describe the way in which a source other than
the main source is used to gather data and can be seen as the way in which a document draws on
one or more primary sources which can be analysed and interpreted (Your Dictionary, 2019).
Primary data can be described as the way in which a researcher gathers research which can be
collected mainly through research methods such as surveys, interviews and participant observation
(McNeill and Chapman, 2005). When collecting primary data, it is important for the researcher to
ensure reliability, this means that if the research was to be carried out by another person the same
results would be collected (McNeill and Chapman, 2005). Another way that the researcher should
maintain consistency within the research collected is through ensuring validity, this is the way in
which researchers are able to measure whether the data that is being collected is a true picture of
what is being studied (McNeill and Chapman, 2005). Collecting primary data can be seen as the way
in which researchers can gather data which is relevant to their topic through finding research
methods which will prove to be effective whilst attempting to understand the way in which research
methods prove to be useful. This can be demonstrated through the way in which primary data is
collected as this can impact the choice of the research topic, as this can influence the way in which
the interests and the values of the researcher are comparable; sometimes the choice of topic can be
affected due to the funding of the research as some researchers may not be carry out their research
