what do researcher mean by secondary data
information from research aleady conducted for another purpose
data collected specifically for the researchers own study
data considered less important than primary data
data collected after any research to gather primary data
Researchers refer to secondary data as information that has been collected and complied by someone else for a different purpose than the current study. This data is not collected specifically for the researcher's own study and is often sourced from existing databases, published reports, or previously conducted studies. Secondary data can be used to provide context, support or augment the researcher's primary data, or to answer research questions that were not the primary focus of the original data collection effort.
Researchers use the term "secondary data" to refer to information that has been previously collected for another purpose, typically not by the researchers themselves. It can include various forms of existing data, such as public records, government reports, academic studies, surveys, or any other data that has already been collected by someone else. Importantly, secondary data is not collected specifically for the researcher's own study but is rather sourced from external sources. It is often used to complement or supplement primary data, which is collected directly by the researchers for their specific research study. While secondary data can be valuable and cost-effective, it is not considered less important than primary data; it simply serves a different purpose and has its own benefits and limitations.
Researchers refer to secondary data as information that has been gathered or collected for a different purpose by someone else. It is not the primary focus of the researcher's own study but can still be used to supplement or support their findings. Secondary data can include a wide range of information such as existing databases, published reports, articles, surveys, or any other data that has been collected by other researchers, organizations, or government agencies.
To understand how to obtain secondary data, researchers typically employ several strategies:
1. Literature Review: Conducting a thorough review of existing literature, research papers, reports, and other published sources to identify relevant secondary data that aligns with the research question or objectives.
2. Online Databases: Utilizing online databases and platforms (e.g., academic journals, governmental websites, research repositories) to access secondary data sources that are freely available or require a subscription.
3. Government Sources: Exploring governmental sources, such as census data, public health records, economic indicators, or other publicly available datasets released by government agencies.
4. Institutional Sources: Contacting organizations, research institutions, or universities that have conducted previous studies or research in the relevant field and requesting access to their data.
5. Research Repositories: Accessing research repositories and data archives, which are platforms or online collections specifically designed for sharing and accessing research datasets produced by various researchers and organizations.
By utilizing secondary data, researchers can leverage the wealth of information already available, saving time, resources, and effort that would be required to collect primary data. However, it is important for researchers to critically evaluate and analyze the quality and relevance of the secondary data, as well as acknowledge its limitations in their research findings.