Undertake primary research

Welcome to Your Research Journey!

In this chapter, we are looking at Stage 2 of your citizenship action: Undertaking primary research. Think of this as the "detective" phase of your project. Before you can change the world (or your local park), you need to get the facts straight from the source!

By the end of these notes, you’ll know how to ask the right questions, choose the best research methods, and turn your findings into a winning plan of action. Don’t worry if this seems like a lot of work at first—we’re going to break it down step-by-step.

1. What exactly is Primary Research?

In your previous stage, you likely did secondary research (looking at things other people already wrote, like news reports or websites). Primary research is different. It is information that you collect yourself for the first time.

Analogy: Imagine you want to know if the school canteen food is good. Reading the menu is secondary research. Asking 50 students what they think of the pasta is primary research.

Did you know? Primary research is vital because it gives you up-to-date information that is specific to your local issue. A national report might say teenagers are happy, but your primary research might show that teenagers in your town are actually bored because the youth club closed!

Key Methods of Primary Research

According to the syllabus, you can use several methods to gather your own data:

• Surveys and Polls: Asking many people the same set of short questions to get a "big picture" of what people think.
• Interviews: Having a deeper conversation with one person (like a local councillor or a charity worker) to get detailed information.
• Observations: Watching a situation and recording what you see (e.g., counting how many cars speed past a school in 30 minutes).
• Focus Groups/Discussions: Talking to a small group of community members to hear different opinions at once.

Quick Review: Primary research = Information you find out yourself. Secondary research = Information someone else already found out.

2. Planning Your Research Questions

You can't just walk up to people and start chatting! You need research questions. These are the specific things you want to find out to help your project succeed.

How to "Sequence" Questions

The syllabus mentions sequencing your questions. This just means putting them in a logical order. Start with easy, "ice-breaker" questions and move to more complex ones later.

Example for a campaign about litter:
1. Do you think litter is a problem in our park? (Easy)
2. How often do you visit the park? (Specific)
3. What do you think is the main reason people litter there? (Deep/Opinion-based)

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't ask leading questions. A leading question is one that "forces" someone into an answer. Instead of saying, "Don't you agree that the park is disgusting?", ask, "What is your opinion on the cleanliness of the park?"

3. Numbers vs. Words (Quantitative & Qualitative)

When you carry out your research, you will collect two types of data. It’s usually best to have a mix of both!

Quantitative Data (The "Numbers" People)

This is data that can be measured or counted. It tells you how many or how much.

Example: "85% of students want more recycling bins."

Qualitative Data (The "Words" People)

This is data about opinions, feelings, and reasons. It tells you why people feel a certain way.

Example: "One resident said they don't recycle because the bins are too far away and always smelly."

Memory Aid: Use the letters in the words to help you remember!
Quantitative = Tally (numbers).
Qualilative = Language (words).

Key Takeaway: Use surveys for numbers (quantitative) and interviews for stories and opinions (qualitative).

4. Analysing Your Results

Once you have your pile of survey sheets or interview notes, you need to analyse them. This means looking for patterns or "evidence" that helps you decide what your citizenship action should be.

Step-by-Step Analysis:

1. Organise: Tally up your survey answers or highlight key quotes from your interviews.
2. Look for Patterns: Did most people say the same thing? If 90% of people say the bus is always late, you have evidence of a problem!
3. Identify the "Why": Use your qualitative data to understand the root cause.
4. Make a Decision: Use this evidence to choose your activity. If your research shows people want a petition, don't waste time making posters!

Encouragement: Don't worry if your research shows that your original idea was wrong! That’s actually a success. It's better to find out now and change your plan than to spend weeks on an action that nobody wants.

5. Ethical Research: Staying Safe and Fair

While the syllabus focuses on the how, it's important to remember the rights of the people you are researching.

• Consent: Always ask people if they mind answering your questions first.
• Privacy: Don't share people's names unless they give you permission. Keep their data safe.
• Respect: Be polite, even if someone has an opinion you don't agree with!

Quick Review Box: The Primary Research Checklist
- Did I write clear research questions?
- Did I choose the right method (Survey, Interview, or Observation)?
- Did I get a mix of numbers (Quantitative) and opinions (Qualitative)?
- Did I look for evidence to help me plan my next step?

Summary of Stage 2

Primary research is the bridge between having a general idea and taking informed action. By gathering your own data through surveys, interviews, or observations, you ensure that your citizenship project is based on real-world evidence rather than just guesses. This makes your project much more powerful and persuasive when you present it to people in power later on!