Includes bibliographical references and index.

This case discusses various decisions one makes when deciding to use secondary data analyses to address a research question. It begins with a discussion of an idea (in this case, the intersection of relation and gender) arising from current research and longstanding interest in a topic and the gap in knowledge the research question would address. The original study providing the data source is then discussed, as well as various questions that had to be answered before deciding to use it for analyses, such as whether it is the correct sample for the question being asked and whether the data available are sufficient. Once the decision is made to go ahead, the data must be prepared for the new analyses involving, for example, selecting the variables, recoding where necessary, and testing the underlying assumptions of the statistical techniques to be used. The process does not end after the analyses are conducted. The results must be interpreted and a decision made about where to publish and about the logical flow of the paper. This case emphasizes the value of using secondary data analyses, provided the right question can be formulated given the characteristics of the data set, walking the reader through various steps in the decision to do so and then in implementing the decision to proceed through to publication of the manuscript.

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