Types of Data: Primary & Secondary Data (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

Primary data refers to information collected first-hand by the researcher for a specific purpose or aim

Examples include:

• results from an experiment

• participant responses from an interview or questionnaire

• observations recorded during a study

Primary data can be quantitative (e.g. scores on a memory test) or qualitative (e.g. transcripts from interviews)

Primary data is often more valid and reliable because the researcher has full control over how the data is collected

It is up to date, as it is gathered in real-time rather than relying on existing sources

Primary data is not always practical to collect, especially for complex or large-scale topics

It can be affected by researcher bias — the researcher might unintentionally interpret or collect data in a way that supports their expectations

Secondary data refers to information that has been collected previously by other researchers for different purposes

Examples include:

• data from published studies or meta-analyses

• government statistics or databases

• historical research or case records

Secondary data is not original or “fresh"; it has already been analysed or published

It can, however, provide a broader overview of a topic when drawn from multiple sources

Secondary data is quick and easy to access, allowing researchers to use a range of existing sources

It can offer new insights or alternative interpretations of existing theories or research

The researcher must check the authenticity and validity of the data, which can be difficult or time-consuming

The data may be outdated, reducing reliability and relevance to current research questions