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A study technique known as secondary research uses data that has already been collected. Existing data is compiled and analysed to enhance the cumulative effect of research. Research published in research papers and other comparable publications is considered secondary research. These materials may be made available through online resources, resource centres, and surveys that have previously been completed. A few governmental and non-governmental organisations also keep data that can be obtained and used for research. Secondary research is far more affordable than primary research since it uses already available data, as opposed to primary research, which gathers information from organisations, target population or enterprises directly or through a third party. This article will tell you everything you need to know about secondary research.
What Is Secondary Research?
Secondary research assimilates data from several sources using existing study materials instead of developing a new data set using primary research techniques. Researchers frequently gather data through the internet, libraries, public archives, government reports, and organisational data. Secondary research is preferable when researchers do not have enough time to conduct primary data through primary research.
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What Are The Data Sources In Secondary Research?
Internet
The internet is the most crucial source of data for secondary research because these days, you can find everything on a subject through Google. Internet usage has become common for secondary research data collection because most of the data is easy to find and it is free. While using this strategy makes data collection easier, the researcher must be careful to use only reliable websites. The internet functions as a virtual hub for all other secondary research data sources.
Archives
Government and non-government archives are other places to find helpful research materials. These archives typically provide information that can be verified and offer helpful insights into many research situations. In some circumstances, access to such data would require payment. The problem is that the data is always easily accessible for various reasons. For instance, it would be challenging for academics to obtain some of these resources because they are listed as classified information.
Libraries
Libraries are also a good source for secondary data collection. Consider a library as a repository of knowledge with a collection of pertinent material that may be used as reliable information in various study scenarios. Researchers often publish their dissertations through public libraries in digital format and paperback, freely accessible to the general public. You can download the dissertations and use them as a secondary data source for your research. University libraries often store their annual research publications on their public library websites that you can access for your research.
Institutional Data
University resource centres and think tanks are excellent secondary data sources, particularly for academic study. It is because more research is conducted in academic institutions than in other industries. Since educational institutions are dedicated to tackling issues and advancing the corpus of knowledge, obtaining research data from them is relatively simpler. For the purpose of a literature study, you can readily acquire research data from academic institutes.
Categorisation Of Secondary Data
Secondary research techniques for gathering data fall into qualitative and quantitative categories. Online surveys and questionnaires, trend reports, and analytics regarding numerous aspects of a company or organisation are all examples of quantitative data collection techniques. A researcher can use focus groups and previous interviews to acquire data for qualitative research, which aids in understanding the perspectives of a target population.
What Are The Different Methods in Secondary Research?
Secondary research involves the following steps:
Topic Identification
Topic identification is the most crucial step in secondary research. You must select a topic that is trending and matches your interests. Another criterion for topic selection is the assessment of the existing gaps in that subject area and what your contribution will be to fill the gap. Topic selection requires a thorough assessment that what is the significance of your research and what will be the implications of your research. You might consider doing exploratory or secondary research with a theoretical framework to prove or disprove a theory. Topic selection entirely depends upon your inclinations and what you want to achieve. Topic selection is the hardest part of research; however, if you cannot do it independently, you can always contact Best Dissertation Help in UK for their assistance.
Compile and Gather Data
The next step is data compilation and sorting it out for your research. You can access secondary data by using the above-mentioned data sources. You must create inclusion and exclusion criteria for filtering the data and decide which sources are best and credible for collecting data relevant to your research. Narrowing down the data sources makes the data collection easier, and you get a clear picture of the information.
The haphazard data collection often leads to confusion and information overload, and you must avoid it at all costs. Once you access the data sources, you must start collecting the data relevant to your research questions, aims and objectives. Verify the information’s date, the source’s reliability, the material’s applicability to your study topic, and the research process employed by outside researchers as you look for and access information. Take baby steps and expand your research into the areas that will most benefit your study’s objectives when you see progress.
Data Organisation
Secondary research often involves too much data and handling all the data by yourself is an overwhelming task. You must have a strategy to sort out and filter the data to derive meaningful inferences. You will have the data in various formats, and it is imperative to exclude the data which is not relevant. Afterwards, evaluate the data and explore the pattern overlaps between different data points.
Also Read: 5 Tips to Organize Your Time and Finish the Dissertation Research
Data Analysis
Look at the data you have at this point in the procedure and determine whether it addresses your initial research questions. Ask the following gaps:
- What are the existing gaps in the data?
- Do you comprehend the information accessed?
- Does the data answer your research questions appropriately?
Conclusion
Secondary research takes very little time and is very cost-effective. Researchers can reduce the research expenses because secondary data collection does not require going through the ordeal of primary data collection. Researchers can discover and identify literature gaps and develop a foundation for future research.
