the major sources of secondary data

What are the sources of secondary data?

The Major Sources of Secondary Data:
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics
2. The Census
3. Other Sources

 Australian Bureau of Statistics
In 1988-89 the National Health Survey: Lifestyle and Health Australia
investigated the association between lifestyle factors (smoking,
alcohol
consumption, exercise levels and body mass) and health status
The ABS collects data on a wide range of subjects from the level
of Australian imports and exports through to unemployment data.
The ABS also commissions special studies, for example:
Cultural Trends in Australian (1992) is a ‘map’ of the size of the
cultural industries (those industries concerned with publishing,
entertainment, museums, libraries, radio, television etc.)
In 1992 the National Time Use Survey was conducted to examine
how Australians use their work, non-work and leisure time.

 The Census:
These special areas of interest aside, the ABS also conduct the National
Population Census every five years (the last one was done in 1996).
The census provides masses of secondary data for researchers.
The detailed questions allow you to build a profile of the Australian
population in areas such as:
•
age
•

sex
•
religion
•
employment
•
highest level of education achieved
•
type of dwelling lived in
•
number of people living in the household
•
level of income etc.
These data can be used to build a profile as broad as the Australian
population overall or as narrow as your local postcode zone.

 Other Sources:
A range of secondary data is available from other government and
semi-government sources. For example:
•
The Bureau of Tourism Research maintains records of overseas
arrivals and departures.
•
The Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education, Training
and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) keeps records of its expenditures on
a variety of federally funded education programs.
•
Hospitals maintain statistics on admissions and types of procedures
required.
•

National and State parks maintain records on visitor numbers.
•
Local councils have records for a whole range of their services.
•
Newspapers publish secondary data on a daily basic.
While there may not be a secondary data source directly related to
your research topic, it would be very unusual if there wasn’t something
you could use, be creative and think broadly about possible sources.

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