Using elderly data theoretically: personal life in 1949/1950 and individualisation theory

摘要: The use of secondary data in sociological research has attracted much critique. For some commentators, problems are so severe that the is greatly compromised, perhaps best avoided. others, these issues do not seem particularly and, sometimes, objections misplaced. I review and their resolutions, illustrated by my own on personal life 1949/1950 – which undertook to assess assumption ‘traditional society’ made individualisation theory. conclude identified using actually inherent any data. While may be (but necessarily) more troublesome use, they can usually overcome or accommodated. Instead seeing as a problem itself, we should rather evaluate how from source, what offer them answer particular questions.