How can secondary research be collected

This data is practically free of cost or one may have to pay a negligible amount to download the already existing data. Websites have a lot of information that businesses or organizations can use to suit their research needs.

However, organizations need to consider only authentic and trusted website to collect information. Government and nongovernment agencies: Data for secondary research can also be collected from some government and non-government agencies. There is a certain cost applicable to download or use data available with these agencies. Data obtained from these agencies are authentic and trustworthy.

Public libraries: Public libraries are another good source to search for data for this research. Public libraries have copies of important research that were conducted earlier. They are a storehouse of important information and documents from which information can be extracted. The services provided in these public libraries vary from one library to another.

More often, libraries have a huge collection of government publications with market statistics, large collection of business directories and newsletters. Educational Institutions: Importance of collecting data from educational institutions for secondary research is often overlooked.

However, more research is conducted in colleges and universities than any other business sector. The data that is collected by universities is mainly for primary research. However, businesses or organizations can approach educational institutions and request for data from them. Commercial information sources: Local newspapers, journals, magazines, radio and TV stations are a great source to obtain data for secondary research.

These commercial information sources have first-hand information on economic developments, political agenda, market research, demographic segmentation and similar subjects.

Businesses or organizations can request to obtain data that is most relevant to their study. Businesses not only have the opportunity to identify their prospective clients but can also know about the avenues to promote their products or services through these sources as they have a wider reach. Here are the steps involved in conducting secondary research:.

Identify the topic of research: Before beginning secondary research, identify the topic that needs research. Identify research sources: Next, narrow down on the information sources that will provide most relevant data and information applicable to your research. Collect existing data: Once the data collection sources are narrowed down, check for any previous data that is available which is closely related to the topic.

Data related to research can be obtained from various sources like newspapers, public libraries, government and non-government agencies etc.

Combine and compare: Once data is collected, combine and compare the data for any duplication and assemble data into a usable format. Make sure to collect data from authentic sources.

Incorrect data can hamper research severely. Analyze data: Analyze data that is collected and identify if all questions are answered. If not, repeat the process if there is a need to dwell further into actionable insights. Most information in this research is readily available. Review the findings and determine whether you have got all the answers to the questions you had in step one, and repeat all the steps again if you feel the need to dwell further for actionable insights.

You can follow the techniques and guidelines mentioned above to conduct your first secondary research. In case you are hard pressed for time and resources, you can opt for primary and secondary market research services from a reliable outsourcing vendor.

You can leverage the following advantages of secondary research by outsourcing to a right partner -. Outsource2india is one of the leading research and analysis service providers in India offering an assortment of market research services to global clients.

We have the expertise and resources to meet all your research and analysis requirements effectively. We respect your privacy. Our Policy. Have specific requirements? Email us at: research. About Us How We Work. Our Services Contact Us. Pricing Benefits Testimonials Case studies. Get more information on our financial research services and sub-services.

Get more information on our market research services and sub-services. Researchers summarize the existing research and use the results to support their research goals.

Both primary and secondary research have their places. Primary research can support the findings found through secondary research and fill knowledge gaps , while secondary research can be a starting point for further primary research. Because of this, these research methods are often combined for optimal research results that are accurate at both the micro and macro level.

There are two types of secondary research sources: internal and external. Internal data is a good first port of call for insights and knowledge, as you may already have relevant information stored in your systems. Examples of internal data include:. External data is useful when you: 1 need information on a new topic, 2 want to fill in gaps in your knowledge, or 3 want data that breaks down a population or market for trend and pattern analysis. Examples of external data include:.

There are plenty of sites that hold data for people to view and use in their research. Researchers can create free accounts and use the search facilities to look into a topic by keyword, before following the instructions to download or export results for further analysis. This can be useful for exploring a new market that your organization wants to consider entering.

For instance, by viewing the U. S Census Bureau demographic data for that area, you can see what the demographics of your target audience are , and create compelling marketing campaigns accordingly.

There may be multimedia elements like video or documented posters of propaganda showing biased language usage. By gathering this information, synthesizing it, and evaluating the language, who created it and when it was shared, you can create a timeline of how a topic was discussed over time. Educational institutions, such as schools and colleges, create a lot of research-based reports on younger audiences or their academic specialisms.

Dissertations from students also can be submitted to research journals, making these places useful places to see the latest insights from a new generation of academics. Information can be requested — and sometimes academic institutions may want to collaborate and conduct research on your behalf.

This can provide key primary data in areas that you want to research, as well as secondary data sources for your research. The disadvantages of secondary research are worth considering in advance of conducting research :. Now that you know the basics of secondary research, when do researchers normally conduct secondary research? In addition, if the research area is new to the researcher, it can form crucial background context to help them understand what information exists already. Secondary research can also be used in conjunction with primary research.

Secondary research can become the formative research that helps pinpoint where further primary research is needed to find out specific information. It can also support or verify the findings from primary research. Secondary research should not be used in place of primary research as both are very different and are used for various circumstances. The older work may provide you with the answers, and give you a starting dataset and context of how your organization approached the research before.

However, be mindful that the work is probably out of date and view it with that note in mind. Read through and look for where this helps your research goals or where more work is needed. When you have clear goals, and understand what you need to achieve, you can look for the perfect type of secondary or primary research to support the aims.

If you are looking for credibility, you want to consider how accurate the research results will need to be, and if you can sacrifice credibility for speed by using secondary sources to get you started. Bear in mind which sources you choose — low-credibility data sites, like political party websites that are highly biased to favor their own party, would skew your results. Since a lot can change in a few years, note the date of your research and look for earlier data sets that can tell you a more recent picture of results.

One caveat to this is using data collected over a long-term period for comparisons with earlier periods, which can tell you about the rate and direction of change. We created a front-to-back guide on conducting market research, The ultimate guide to conducting market research , so you can understand the research journey with confidence. Download the free guide for a clearer view on secondary research and other key research types for your business. See more.

Download our free guide for a clearer view on market research for your business. Market Research. Just a minute! It looks like you entered an academic email. This form is used to request a product demo if you intend to explore Qualtrics for purchase. There's a good chance that your academic institution already has a full Qualtrics license just for you! Make sure you entered your school-issued email address correctly. Qualtrics Support can then help you determine whether or not your university has a Qualtrics license and send you to the appropriate account administrator.

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