The use of secondary data, or existing data that is freely available to researchers who were not involved in the original study, has a long and rich tradition in the social sciences. In recent years, the internet has made secondary datasets readily available at the click of a mouse. And yet, whether due to a lack of methodological training or as part of a broader indifference to alternative data collection strategies, psychologists have been surprisingly slow to utilize these useful resources. Secondary Data Analysis: An Introduction for Psychologists provides students and seasoned researchers alike with an accessible introduction to secondary analysis. The book is divided into two sections: Part I provides psychologists with a set of accessible methodological primers, including chapters on using short forms of scales; analyzing survey data with complex sampling designs; and dealing with missing data. (Readers are assumed to possess a working knowledge of multivariate analysis.) Chapters in Part II provide compelling examples of secondary data analysis in various kinds of psychological research, including development and aging, behavioral genetics, cross-cultural psychology, and the psychology of political affiliation. This wide-ranging yet practical book shows how the analysis of secondary data can provide unique and compelling opportunities for advancing psychological science.

Kali H. Trzesniewski, PhD, is an assistant professor of developmental psychology at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Trzesniewski's research interests are at the intersections of developmental psychology, personality psychology, and social psychology. Her current research focuses on biological and social-cultural influences on the development of the self and self-related processes. To address her research questions, she uses secondary datasets, along with primary data.
 
M. Brent Donnellan, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at Michigan State University. He is currently an associate editor of the Journal of Research in Personality. Dr. Donnellan's research interests are at the intersections of personality psychology, developmental psychology, and psychological assessment, and he has analyzed secondary data in several of his publications. His current efforts focus on personality development and the role of individual differences in interpersonal relationships.
 
Richard E. Lucas, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at Michigan State University. His research focuses on the factors that contribute to the stability and change in subjective well-being. He has served as an associate editor for the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and is currently editor-in-chief of the Journal of Research in Personality. He is a coauthor of the book Well-Being and Public Policy, which examines the role that well-being measures can play in informing public policy decisions.