[Year 12 Its] Primary vs Secondary Data Sources

Fri May 20 11:08:36 EST 2005

Hi Paul,

   Thanks for stating the obvious. 
The discussion is not about splitting hairs. 
I am the first person to dismiss arbitrary tags around data source definitions and get to the important data to modify a system or design a new one.

The post that started this thread referred to SAC32.
SAC 32 , Key knowledge dot point 4 states:
.  primary and secondary data sources and data acquisition methods to conduct the analysis, including direct observation, surveys, interviews, system and program documentation, logs;

 2004 IT Systems Exam Question 2 states:
Question 2   Identify each of the following data sources as primary or secondary. 

i. The technical documentation of a software program 

ii. The error log of an information system

  I would have thought these are examinable ( based on the above ) and as a minimum we , as teachers would agree what each means and could justify it based on agreed definitions for the sake of the students. Nothing more, nothing less.
If it is too hard to agree and we now wish to rewrite the Study Design in terms of what it "should" look like, then .... there is nothing more to say.

Best Wishes
Kevork

>>> bicknell.paul.p at edumail.vic.gov.au 05/20/05 09:38am >>>
We need to be clear on the definitions because it is part of the curriculum of IS and in the exam

________________________________

From: is-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Robert Timmer-Arends
Sent: Thu 5/19/2005 7:46 PM
To: Year 12 Information Technology Systems Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 Its] Primary vs Secondary Data Sources

Taking up Mike's point from before, I wonder if we are starting to get too
hung up on definitions. What is more important: that a student can define
the difference between primary and secondary data; or that the student can
identify the most useful sources of data for a given situation?

Regards
Robert T-A
Brighton SC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bicknell, Paul P" <bicknell.paul.p at edumail.vic.gov.au>
To: "Year 12 Information Technology Systems Teachers' Mailing List"
<is at edulists.com.au>
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 2:13 PM
Subject: RE: [Year 12 Its] Primary vs Secondary Data Sources

>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: is-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Kevork Krozian
> Sent: Thu 5/19/2005 12:25 PM
> To: is at edulists.com.au 
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 Its] Primary vs Secondary Data Sources
> In the context of the following
>
> < Many texts make the distinction between primary and secondary as not the
amount of "interpretation" or "reworking" of <the data as the criterion for
it transforming to secondary data, but the level of separation from the
Information System in <question. Eg. Building Information Systems
Fitzpatrcik et al p 107 -- " .. primary data directly from the people and
documents <associated with the information system and its problems.
Secondary data is collected from people and documents one step <removed and
not directly linked to the information system and its problems".
>
> I think the "information system and its problems" is in the context of a
project of investigation, for example the marketing department may carry out
a customer satisfaction survey and this would be considered secondary
because it was carried out by a group not directly involver withe the
information system maintenance.
> And a computer log is primary because the human role in collection is not
direct and not interpreted and it is collected directly from the information
system that is being investigated
>
> Primary data:
> Data that has been collected by yourself (or project team)
>
>  Secondary data:
> data that has been collected by others, who maybe employed by the same
company but the data collection methods have not been directly under control
of yourself or the project team.
>
>
> The amount of processing is not important but rather who controlled the
collection, for example a survey by me or people managed by me is primary
but a identical survey by other than me or managed by me is secondary. Me
being head of the project or team. The interpretation methods and extent of
data transformation may be identical but the deciding factor is who did it.
If you and you team did not carry out the survey the results automatically
become less reliable and deemed a secondary source of data.
>
>
>
>
>
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http://www.edulists.com.au 
IT Systems Mailing List kindly supported by
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http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc

Important - 
This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education & Training.
_______________________________________________
http://www.edulists.com.au 
IT Systems Mailing List kindly supported by
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc