Question 1: What is a secondary source in sociology? Give one example.

Answer: A secondary source is information that has been collected and written by someone else, not directly by the researcher. Example: a textbook or a newspaper article.

Question 2: Why do sociologists use secondary sources instead of collecting their own data all the time?

Answer: Because secondary sources are often quicker and cheaper to access, and they can provide information from past events or large-scale studies that would be difficult to collect themselves.

Question 3: Name two types of secondary sources that sociologists might use in their research.

Answer: Examples include official government reports and newspaper articles.

Question 4: List one advantage and one disadvantage of using secondary sources in sociology.

Answer: Advantage: They save time and resources. Disadvantage: They may not be specific to the research question or may be outdated.

Question 5: Imagine a sociologist wants to study how teenagers feel about social media today. Would they likely use a secondary source or collect new data? Explain why.

Answer: They might use a secondary source such as recent surveys or reports about teenagers’ social media use. This saves time and provides quick access to existing information, but they might also collect new data to get more specific answers.

Question 6: What information would you look for when reading a government report about education to help with a sociology project?

Answer: Data about student attendance, exam results, or reports on school policies. This information helps understand trends and issues in education.

Question 7: Describe how newspaper articles can be useful secondary sources for sociologists.

Answer: They can show public opinions, recent events, or societal issues, providing context and real-life examples relevant to research topics.

Question 8: Sketch a simple diagram to show how secondary sources relate to primary research. Use labels and arrows to explain the relationship.

Answer: A diagram with two boxes: one labeled 'Primary Data (e.g., surveys, interviews)' and another labeled 'Secondary Sources (e.g., reports, articles)'. Arrows should show secondary sources can be based on or used alongside primary data.

Question 9: Identify one reason why a sociologist might choose to use a newspaper article from five years ago in their research today.

Answer: To understand how opinions or social issues have changed over time or to provide historical context.

Question 10: Think about a social issue, such as homelessness. What kind of secondary sources could a sociologist use to study this issue?

Answer: Government reports, charity organization studies, newspaper articles, research papers, or official statistics.