To what extent can secondary data provide valid evidence of social life? [15]
Candidates may recognise that there is a wide range of secondary data and that its validity is
not related to it being secondary. Alternatively candidates may take a qualitative vs.
quantitative, primary v secondary route to answering the question.
Arguments for:
• Secondary data can be valid because it is carried out by experienced researchers;
• Secondary data like diaries, historical documents etc. can offer great insight and may be
a valid snap shot of that person’s social interactions;
• Secondary data may be unique and give insight into particular groups or sub-cultures;
• Documents never intend for publication may be valid because the individual has no
reason to be biased/lie;
• Any other reasonable response.
Arguments against:
• May be unrepresentative;
• May contain researcher bias and distortion;
• May have been produced for another purpose
• Official statistics may reflect the way things have been categorised rather than reality
e.g. crime figures;
• Primary data done by the researcher for the researchers own purposes may be more
valid;
• Any other reasonable response.
Band 0
No creditworthy response.
Band 1 (1–4)
Answers in this band may be largely based on common sense showing limited or no
knowledge of sociological terms or concepts. The candidate may define secondary data but
that is all in terms of sociological knowledge. Candidates are unlikely to understand the
nature of secondary data and may assume it is just official statistics, e.g. secondary data
may not be valid because it doesn’t measure what it says it does.
Band 2 (5–8)
In this band candidates will tend to offer some basic discussion of the strengths and/or
limitations of secondary data. They may describe types of data and their problems.
Alternatively, they may offer an answer which is list-like in nature but there will be no real
attempt to address the issue of validity. At the top of the band, candidates may offer a
description of more than one types of data or issue.
One sided answers can not score higher than 8 marks.
Band 3 (9–12)
Answers in this band will show good use of sociological language and will make some
attempt at addressing the issue of the validity of various types of secondary data but this may
be weak or focus only on either agreement or disagreement with the question. At the bottom
of the band, candidates may provide a good range of points but there might be a lack of
focus on the issue. At the top of the band, candidates are likely to show either strong
agreement or disagreement with clear focus on the question but are unlikely to debate both
sides of the argument.
Band 4 (13–15)
Answers in this band will be clearly focused on the question and address the ‘extent’ of the
validity of the secondary data. Candidates will offer a range of arguments both for and
against the question but this need not be balanced. They show excellent grasp of
sociological terms and knowledge. At the top of the band there will also be an evaluative
conclusion, e.g. ‘The extent of the validity depends on the nature of the secondary data being
used. Some data will be more valid in nature than others. To some extent the validity
depends on the nature of the research being conducted’.