ABSTRACT
Not all the data we use as political scientists are self-generated. In Chapter 3 we discussed the use of surveys and recommended that replicating existing stringently tested questions is one means of establishing good research. Yet we may also choose (or need) to conduct secondary analyses; that is, we make use of data which have been gathered and published by others (rather than construct our own survey on party preference we may, for example, simply choose to make use of the results of opinion polls). In this chapter we shall consider established sources of data, in the form of official statistics, and some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with them. Established sources of data collection are crucial for contemporary research, partly because of their volume and depth. Indeed, Slattery (1986, p. 4) defines official statistics as ‘the very lifeblood of modern bureaucracy’. Official statistics cover themes such as the economy, the labour market, welfare, and populations and migration. Briefing box 4.1 lists some of the most predominant sources. First, though, it is necessary to identify some key sources, identify how they are collected, and identify what sort of data they provide.
