9699 · 2.1
Types of data, methods and research design
**Research methods** (2.1) is core Paper 1 skills. Always state **strengths and limitations** of each method. Methods questions often require **matching method to aim**.
Need to know
What you need to know
- Primary Data: Collected firsthand by the researcher (e.g., interviews, questionnaires).
- Secondary Data: Pre-existing data collected by others (e.g., official statistics, diaries).
- Primary data offers high validity for the specific research aim but can be costly.
- Secondary data is often large-scale and cheap but may lack specificity or reflect the biases of the original collector.
Explanation
Types of data, methods and research design
- Primary Data: Collected firsthand by the researcher (e.g., interviews, questionnaires).
- Secondary Data: Pre-existing data collected by others (e.g., official statistics, diaries).
- Primary data offers high validity for the specific research aim but can be costly.
- Secondary data is often large-scale and cheap but may lack specificity or reflect the biases of the original collector.