Undertaking Primary And Secondary Research
Overview
Once you have an issue, the temptation is to jump straight to doing something about it. Resist it. A project built on assumptions rather than evidence tends to solve the wrong problem, or solve the right problem in a way that does not work, because nobody asked the people it was meant to help.
This lesson teaches you how to research an issue properly before you act on it: how to turn a broad concern into specific research questions, how secondary research and primary research each do a different job, and how to design a survey or interview that actually tells you the truth rather than the answer you were hoping to hear. The running example throughout is a public library reducing its opening hours, a genuine local issue with real people on different sides of it.
Objectives
- Identify and sequence research questions relating to the issue, problem, cause or social need
- Carry out primary research to answer research questions
- Analyse responses to research questions to support the activity they wish to undertake
- Carry out secondary research to investigate a citizenship issue and prepare for carrying out primary research
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Undertaking Primary And Secondary Research. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of the following is an example of secondary research? A) Interviewing library staff about visitor numbers B) Reading a council report on library funding that was published last year C) Standing outside the library counting visitors D) Distributing a new questionnaire to library users Answer: B
- A student only surveys their five closest friends about a local issue because it is quick and easy. This is an example of: A) A representative sample B) A convenience sample C) Secondary research D) A leading question Answer: B
- Which of these questions is worded as a leading question? A) What are your views on the proposed library closure? B) How often do you visit the library, if at all? C) Don't you think it's unfair that the library is closing early? D) On a scale of 1 to 5, how important is the library to you? Answer: C
- Which primary research method is most suitable for exploring, in depth, why a small number of individuals feel strongly about an issue? A) A large-scale questionnaire B) An interview C) A national statistics report D) A newspaper archive search Answer: B
- A student's survey finds that most respondents oppose an issue, but the sample was made up entirely of people already known to the student. What is the main limitation of this finding? A) The finding is definitely false B) The sample may not represent the wider population fairly C) Surveys cannot be used as primary research D) Secondary research should have been used instead Answer: B
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