1. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Chapter 13: Other Sources of Information

2. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Objectives Identify useful sources of secondary data Manage the process of searching for data Appreciate the availability of information from the web Value the contribution of additional information

3. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Making a start Rather than just using the information sources you have used before it is worth looking around just to see what you can find. Try browsing: Newspapers, journals, bookshops Published statistics The Internet

4. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Improved understanding of the problem Clarification the problem: Do we know we are working on the right problem (not just the symptoms) Who has an interest on the problem and the solution (we can talk about stakeholders, viewpoints and actors) Can we encourage more creative solutions?

5. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Brainstorming – can be used at any stage of the problem solving process An important part of being more imaginative is the generation of ideas. Brainstorming is a means of encouraging ideas. One important principle is to defer judgement

6. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Official statistics Try the office of National Statistics web site www.statistics.gov.uk You will find information on many aspects of social and economic activity

7. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Government publications include: The Annual Abstract of Statistics The Monthly Digest of Statistics Financial Statistics Economic Trends Social Trends

8. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Data from the web Build up your own library of web sites: www.ons.gov.uk www.bbc.co.uk

9. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Make a search using one of the popular search engines: www.google.com www.lycos.co.uk www.yahoo.com

10. Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Thomson Learning 2004 Jon Curwin and Roger Slater, QUANTITATIVE METHODS: A SHORT COURSE ISBN 1-86152-991-0 © Cengage Conclusions It is worth clarifying the purpose of your research There is plenty of data out there but you also need to be sure about its validity Secondary data and primary data can be complementary