Secondary Data Source

Common Types of Secondary Data Sources

Within qualitative research designs, the most common primary data sources are interviews and observations that are transcribed to create field notes. These data are collected by the researcher in the field ideally through prolonged engagement with research subjects. Secondary data sources are sometimes referred to as artifacts that the researcher discovers through the empirical data collection process. These data sources may not always be on the researcher’s data collection plan or conceptual framework that guides the researcher’s entry into the field to collect data. Astute qualitative researchers consistently look for possible sources of secondary data as they use their senses to understand the context of the research setting and phenomena that researcher participants experienced. Qualitative researchers should keep a list of potential secondary data sources throughout the data collection process that includes source, person who can grant access to data if needed, and whether the source is static or living.

Common sources of secondary qualitative data include preexisting documents such as books, newspapers, journals, government records, and other texts; audio and video files; and photographs. These data may be official archival or historical materials of a program, organization, or other entity where the research is being conducted whereby access is granted by a gatekeeper. Likewise, these data sources may be shared with the researcher by study participants who consent to an interview or observation. These data sources may be in hard copy or electronic formats. [Page 1478]Secondary data sources in hardcopy format can be digitized so that the artifact can be imported into a qualitative data analysis software program.

Within quantitative research design, secondary data sources are typically considered preexisting data sets that are made available to the researcher. This might include assessment and survey data compiled and tabulated by government agencies, educational institutions, research firms, or organizations. These quantitative secondary data sources should include access to a data dictionary that includes, among other entries, an operational definition of variables, scales of measurement, and relationship to other variables. Quantitative secondary data sets may be publicly accessible or require the researcher to obtain a license to access.

Emerging Types of Secondary Data Sources

The internet has made traditional secondary data sources that have been digitized more accessible to researchers. Likewise, the internet has also caused new forms of secondary data sources to emerge. Common forms of emerging secondary data sources include web pages, personal blogs, and discussion boards. These emerging secondary data sources can also be publicly accessible to anyone who is surfing the web and who is willing to mine the data for empirical evidence that is openly viewable.

...