Primary vs Secondary Research

Attack

Health

Attack

Health

VS

Primary Research

Secondary Research

• An analysis and interpretation of data gathered from primary research studies about a specific research topic
• Useful for determining the extent of existing knowledge on a topic
• Not enough info from past studies can effect obtaining concrete answers
• Too much info can be overwhelming

• Original data collected through self-conducted research methods about a specific research topic (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations, data analysis)

• Can help fill gaps in existing knowledge
• High researcher involvement, time consuming, and often expensive

Secondary Research

Primary Research

Conducted by researcher

Conducted by others

Provides new knowledge to a field of study.

Provides a summary or synthesis of existing knowledge compiled by researchers in the past.

Both provide information that can specifically answer research questions.

Expensive, time consuming, takes a lot of effort, but can fill subsequent knowledge gaps in secondary research methods.

Saves time and money, but there may be either too much information on a topic of interest or not enough.