Discuss advantages and disadvantages of primary data.
Discuss advantages and disadvantages of primary data.
Importance of primary data cannot be neglected. A research can be conducted without secondary data but a research based on only secondary data is unreliable and may have biases because secondary data has been manipulated by human beings.
Validity: Validity is one of the major concerns in a research. Validity is the quality of a research that makes it trustworthy and scientific. Validity is the use of scientific methods in research to make it logical and acceptable. Using primary data in research can improve the validity of the research. First hand information obtained from a sample that is representative of the target population will yield data that will be valid for the entire target population.
Authenticity: Authenticity is the veritable nature of the research. Authenticity can be at stake if the researcher introduces personal biases or uses misleading information in the research. Primary research tools and data can become more authentic if the methods chosen to analyze and interpret data are valid and reasonably suitable for the data type. Primary sources are more authentic because the facts have not been edited. Primary source can be less authentic if the source hides information or alters facts due to some personal reasons. There are methods that can be employed to ensure factual yielding of data from the source.
Reliability: Reliability is the certainty that the research is good enough to be true. For example, suppose that a research study concludes that junk food consumption does not increase the risk of cancer and heart diseases. This conclusion should be drawn from a sample whose size, sampling technique and variability are not questionable. Reliability improves with using primary data. On the other hand, if he relies on the data available in books and on the internet, he will collect information that is not representative of real facts.
Some Disadvantages of using primary data:
(i) The investigator has to contend with all the hassles of data collection:
1. Decisions on how, when, where to collect data
2. Collection of data itself
3. Funding for the same
4. Ethical concerns
(ii) Ensuring the data collected is of good quality; all desired data is obtained accurately and in the required format.
There ought to be no false data, and all unnecessary information must be removed.
(iii) Cost of obtaining the data is often a major expense in studies.
Importance of primary data cannot be neglected. A research can be conducted without secondary data but a research based on only secondary data is unreliable and may have biases because secondary data has been manipulated by human beings.
Validity: Validity is one of the major concerns in a research. Validity is the quality of a research that makes it trustworthy and scientific. Validity is the use of scientific methods in research to make it logical and acceptable. Using primary data in research can improve the validity of the research. First hand information obtained from a sample that is representative of the target population will yield data that will be valid for the entire target population.
Authenticity: Authenticity is the veritable nature of the research. Authenticity can be at stake if the researcher introduces personal biases or uses misleading information in the research. Primary research tools and data can become more authentic if the methods chosen to analyze and interpret data are valid and reasonably suitable for the data type. Primary sources are more authentic because the facts have not been edited. Primary source can be less authentic if the source hides information or alters facts due to some personal reasons. There are methods that can be employed to ensure factual yielding of data from the source.
Reliability: Reliability is the certainty that the research is good enough to be true. For example, suppose that a research study concludes that junk food consumption does not increase the risk of cancer and heart diseases. This conclusion should be drawn from a sample whose size, sampling technique and variability are not questionable. Reliability improves with using primary data. On the other hand, if he relies on the data available in books and on the internet, he will collect information that is not representative of real facts.
Some Disadvantages of using primary data:
(i) The investigator has to contend with all the hassles of data collection:
1. Decisions on how, when, where to collect data
2. Collection of data itself
3. Funding for the same
4. Ethical concerns
(ii) Ensuring the data collected is of good quality; all desired data is obtained accurately and in the required format.
There ought to be no false data, and all unnecessary information must be removed.
(iii) Cost of obtaining the data is often a major expense in studies.
