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Sources and Collection of Data

FoundationHigherAQAEdexcel

Revise Sources and Collection of Data for GCSE Statistics with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA and Edexcel. Data can be gathered from questionnaires, data logging, or reliable secondary sources such as official statistics.

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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA and Edexcel specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

Foundation

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Higher

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Topic overview

Data comes from a range of sources, and knowing where to look and how to judge quality is examined directly.

Primary sources include questionnaires, interviews, experiments and direct observation. Secondary sources include government publications, the census, published research, newspapers and websites.

The reliability of a source must be judged. Government and official statistics are generally reliable because the collection method is documented and the sample is large. Newspaper and website data may be less reliable, because the source of the figures may not be stated, the sample may be small or unrepresentative, and the publisher may have an interest in a particular conclusion.

Revision notes

Primary sources

Questionnaires, interviews, experiments and direct observation.

The investigator controls the method, so its quality is known. Observation involves recording what happens without questioning anyone, which avoids the bias introduced by asking.

Secondary sources

Government publications, the national census, published research, newspapers, websites and databases.

The census is a particularly useful secondary source because it covers the whole population and is collected rigorously, though it is only carried out every ten years.

Judging reliability

Ask who collected the data, how, when and why.

Official statistics are generally reliable because the method is documented. Newspaper and website figures may not state their source, may use a small or unrepresentative sample, and the publisher may have an interest in a particular conclusion.

Key points

  • Primary sources include questionnaires and experiments.
  • Observation records events without questioning.
  • Secondary sources include the census and publications.
  • Official statistics are generally reliable.
  • Newspaper data may not state its source.
  • Ask who collected the data and why.

Worked examples

Example 1

Name one secondary source of data. [1 mark]

Working

Government publications, the census, or a published research studyname a valid source

Example 2

Explain why data from a newspaper may be less reliable than official statistics. [2 marks]

Working

The source of the newspaper figures may not be stated and the sample may be small or unrepresentativestate the problem
and the publisher may have an interest in presenting a particular conclusiongive a second reason

Example 3

Explain one advantage of collecting data by observation rather than by questionnaire. [2 marks]

Working

Observation records what people actually do rather than what they say they dostate the difference
so it avoids the bias that arises when respondents give the answer they think is expectedexplain the benefit

Common mistakes

  • Assuming all published data is reliable.

    Judge the source, the method and the motive.

  • Confusing observation with interviewing.

    Observation records behaviour without questioning anyone.

  • Saying the census is primary data.

    It is primary for the government but secondary for anyone else using it.

  • Not justifying a reliability judgement.

    Say specifically why a source is or is not trustworthy.

Exam tips

  • Ask who, how, when and why when judging a source.
  • Learn distinct examples of primary and secondary sources.
  • Link observation to avoiding response bias.
  • Justify every reliability judgement.

Key terms

Observation
Recording events without questioning participants.
Census
A national count of the whole population.
Reliability
How trustworthy and consistent data is.
Official statistics
Data published by government bodies.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA and Edexcel specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.