Sociology Plus
Definition
Aggregate data refers to the data obtained and published at the group, batch, or organizational levels and aggregated using processes that protect each individual’s identity. Instead of concentrating on individual instances, some data studies concentrate on statistics relating to large categories or groups, such as socioeconomic classes, homes, or distinct sorts of people. Individual responses are absorbed into these larger entities by aggregate data, losing their individuality.
What is aggregate data analysis?
Any study using public or other data sets representing the characteristics of a large population or similar aggregation of people is called aggregate data analysis. A prime example of aggregate data is Durkheim’s use of suicide statistics.
Advantage vs. Disadvantage
This study method is appealing since it can access a lot of data—including cross-cultural data—for an affordable cost. However, the biggest drawback is that the researcher can be unaware of the methods used to get the original data.
Social science analysis
Researchers employ aggregate data to comprehend the dominant ethos, assess the fundamentals of social reality and a social structure, identify the main research concerns, and provide forecasts regarding the nature of social challenges.
When examining the links between two different variables at the aggregate level and between an aggregate variable and a trait at the individual scale, sociological researchers can benefit from using this data.
Applying this data, researchers have also attempted to assess the policies, procedures critically, and tenets of systems to look into the associated significance and effectiveness.