Back to the full dot-point answer
NSWInvestigating ScienceQuick questions
Module 5: Scientific Investigations
Quick questions on Primary and secondary data: HSC Investigating Science Module 5
12short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is their expertise and institution?Show answer
| | Accuracy | Is the methodology described? Was it peer reviewed? | | Purpose | Why was it written?
What is primary data?Show answer
Data collected directly by the investigator through observation, measurement, experiment or survey. The investigator controls how the data is gathered.
What is secondary data?Show answer
Data collected by other researchers and accessed through published sources. The investigator did not gather the data themselves.
What is sourcing secondary data?Show answer
Trusted Australian sources for HSC investigations:
What is acknowledging sources?Show answer
Every secondary source used in an investigation must be cited. Standard formats include:
What is evaluating secondary data quality?Show answer
The CRAAP test (or similar) is the standard framework.
What is worked example of combined use?Show answer
Investigating drought trends in the Murray-Darling Basin:
What is strengths?Show answer
Targeted to the investigator's hypothesis, full control over methodology, known provenance.
What is limitations?Show answer
Limited by the investigator's time, budget, equipment and access. Cannot retrospectively gather historical data.
What is failing to acknowledge sources?Show answer
Even if the data is freely available, it must be cited.
What is using only secondary data?Show answer
A "no first-hand data" investigation may not meet NESA requirements for Module 5.
What is treating any government website as authoritative?Show answer
Confirm that the data is from an established agency with research credentials (CSIRO, BOM, AIHW), not a press release or advocacy page. :::