data -primary/ secondary

primary data

-collected for the purpose of the investigation by the researcher

-data is collected by experiment, questionnaire, interviews, observations

primary data: strengths

-data is specifically designed to target the information that’s required

primary data: weaknesses

-time consuming

-lots of planning

secondary data

-data collected by someone other than the person conducting the research

-data already exists before research begins

-e.g journal articles, books, governmnt statistics

-meta analysis: research about research: combining a number of studies on a topic to gain an overall view

secondary data: strengths

-quick

-cheap

-no need for additional data collection

seondary data: weaknesses

-outdated

-incomplete

-may not match needs of investigation