1. Secondary Research
What it is and is not

2. Brainstorming 1 – (5 minutes)
In groups of 3-4 discuss your current understanding of ‘secondary research’ and try to generate a definition.

3. Secondary Research
Accessing, analysing and interpreting data which has been collected by another researcher/other researchers
Enables the exploration of the new researchers’ interests without the need for time consuming primary data collection
Enables both breadth and depth with access to ‘big data’

4. Literature Review
Strictly speaking the reading, both broad and in depth, that we must undertake for our research is NOT secondary research.
The literature review enables us to ‘position’ our own research within the body of investigation and discussion pertaining to our topic
It enables us to ‘narrow’ our research

5. Brainstorming 2
Working in groups of 3-4 make a note of any ethical issues that might arise when conducting secondary research

6. Ethical Consideration
Ethical approval must always be given from participants and appropriate ethics committees involved in institutional research
This will not apply to secondary research that uses data collected under previous ethical approvals unless the original approval explicitly states that the data may be used in future research

7. Ethical and Methodological Considerations
Is it ethical to use data sets for a markedly difference purposes from those that drove the original research?
Is it valid from a methodological perspective?

8. Facebook and Cambridge Analytica
Data mining
Data harvesting
Personality quiz ‘thisisyourdigitallife’ specifically set up to provide data in order to create ‘psychographical’ profiles – used personally identifiable information – not fully annonamous.

9. Using Secondary Data
The whole data set to explore an associated but distinct issue. E.g. Original may have attempted to measure the effectiveness of classroom technology. Secondary research might use the data to look specifically at levels of motivation
A sub-set of the original data to look in depth at an a certain aspect of the original findings.

10. Sources of Secondary Data
Official Statistics
Birth, death, marriage, divorce, health, crime, economic, demographic
Good for positivist orientation
Might offer definitions that interpretive orientation might find problematic
Socially constructed – might tell more about the researcher than the researched

11. Sources continued Media Newspapers, Facebook, Twitter, blogs etc.
Might say more about the values and attitudes of the ‘journalist’ than the phenomena under study
Can be analyzed numerically for frequency of categories or interpretively to identify symbolic categories – ‘semiotics’

12. Sources Continued Historical Documents
Government reports, treatises, novels
NOTE: as with all data, but especially secondary data we must ask the following questions about it
Is it authentic?
Is it credible; exaggeration/deception/bias?
Is it representative; selective/minority view?

13. Sources 3 Personal Documents Diaries, letters, (auto)biographies
Both research participants and the researcher may often keep diaries

14. Brainstorming 3 (10 minutes)
In pairs (or small groups) think of possible specific sources of secondary data for you current research project ideas
Think: locally, nationally, (globally?)
Feedback

15. Quantitative/Qualitative
Depends on purpose
Quantitative for trends and measurable effects of policy
Large data sets, quantitative analysis, tables and figures
Qualitative for perceptions and voice
In depth interviews, observations, conversations, field notes

16. Quantitative Self completion questionnaires Structured interview
Simple topics, clear, brief – gives general view
Structured interview
As above but face to face
Answers closed only one response required
Structured observation
Systematic recording of participant behaviour

17. Qualitative In depth interviews Focus groups Participant observation
More open questions
Offers more control to the participant
Focus groups
Tightly defined topic
Small group joint construction of response
Participant observation
Observation in natural setting
Observer joins in systematically collecting data

18. Task 1 (10 minutes)
Considering your current research topic decide if a quantitative or qualitative approach would be more appropriate.
Justify your decision
FEEDBACK

19. Task 2 (10 minutes)
Considering your current research topic and the approach (either quantitative or qualitative) consider if you could successfully locate, access, analyse and interpret secondary data.
FEEDBACK

20. Triangulation Mixed Methods research
The use of both quantitative and qualitative analysis
The analysis and interpretation of both primary and secondary research data
This results in the ability to compare and contrast results from multiple sources
May well include ‘disconfirming’ evidence to the main findings and thus strengthen the research

21. Member Checking
Putting preliminary findings back out to the research participants for their response
Do participants agree with your findings?
Do your findings have ‘face value’ to the participants

22. Strengths and difficulties with multiple mixed methods
Using quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis along with both primary and secondary data and conducting member checking will add appropriate checks and balances to your research – ‘massive triangulation’
However, such research will be massively time consuming and one should practically consider only some aspects of triangulation

23. Readings and Acknowledgements
Stanfield, P. W. (2015). Research Paradigms in Second Language Research. In Brown, J. D., & Coombe, C. (Eds.). The Cambridge Guide to Language Research. Cambridge, CUP.