Secondary Research Methods 

Introduction

Secondary research methods refer to the process of gathering information from existing sources, such as books, journals, databases, online sources, and other published materials. Secondary research can be used to gather background information, analyze existing data, and provide context to primary research studies.

Some common methods of conducting secondary research include:

1. Literature review: This involves reviewing and analyzing existing research studies, publications, and books related to the research topic.

2. Internet research: This involves gathering information from online sources such as online databases, academic journals, government reports, and news articles.

3. Data mining: This involves using software tools to extract and analyze data from large datasets, such as those found in government databases, industry reports, and social media platforms.

4. Document analysis: This involves examining documents such as company reports, financial statements, and historical records to gather information.

5. Case studies: This involves examining existing case studies related to the research topic to gain insight and understanding.

6. Surveys and questionnaires: This involves gathering information from surveys or questionnaires that other researchers have conducted.

Overall, secondary research methods help provide context, background, and supporting evidence for primary research studies and identify potential gaps in the existing literature.

When to use secondary research

Secondary research is a typical research strategy that is employed instead of gathering your own original data collection. It is frequently utilized in research designs or as a starting point for your research process if you want to undertake primary research later.

Secondary research is a low-stakes technique to discover if more primary research is required, as gaps in secondary research clearly signal that main research is required. As a result, while secondary research can be exploratory or explanatory in character, it is generally explanatory: it seeks to explain the causes and implications of a well-defined topic.

Advantages and disadvantages of primary research

Secondary research is a popular research method, but it has specific advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of secondary research :

• Secondary data is very easy to obtain and is widely available.
• It is also frequently free or available through your learning institution’s library or network, making it far less expensive to undertake than primary research.
• Secondary research takes far less time than primary research since you rely on previously conducted research. Because your timetable is so much shorter, your study might be ready for journal publication much sooner.
• Using other people’s data helps demonstrate reproducibility and replicability, reinforcing earlier research and positioning your work within your area.

Disadvantages of secondary research

• Accessibility does not imply credibility. It is critical to understand that secondary research is not always credible and is frequently out of date. Before getting started, assessing any data you’re considering employing, such as the CRAAP test, is vital.
• Secondary research frequently depends on previously done primary research. If the initial research is skewed in any manner, similar biases may infiltrate the secondary results.

References

Peloquin, D., DiMaio, M., Bierer, B., & Barnes, M. (2020). Disruptive and avoidable: GDPR challenges to secondary research uses of data. European Journal of Human Genetics, 28(6), 697–705. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-020-0596-x