Difference Between Primary vs Secondary Research
Research is the methodical search for facts or relevant information about a topic. With the application of scientific methods, someone can discover the answers to mind-boggling questions. In the end, the findings enrich the body of knowledge or real-life problems are solved. In this guide, you will learn the difference between primary and secondary research.
In case you didn’t know before now, those are its two types. So, get ready to learn what each of them entails, how they differ, and a comprehensive wrap-up of the tutorial. First of all, we will start off this piece with their definitions.
Definition of Primary Research
Primary research deals with the search for original data to meet specific needs or solve a problem. The persons involved in it could be you or a firm. Over the course of carrying it out, the experimenter focuses on methods of getting raw data that will be analyzed later. The sources of data could be focus groups, interviews, surveys, and interviews.
For instance, a new entrepreneur may have to carry out this survey to understand what his target market needs in his imminent products. With the feedback, the person can produce goods that satisfy the customers’ taste. In the end, it will rake in mind-blowing profits. When people or institutes conduct this type of study, they expect and get loads of answers.
At the end of it, the answers will be analyzed to determine what the participants expect. By and large, it has two basic forms: Exploratory and Specific. While the scope of the specific is targeted (such as how to solve a problem), exploratory does not have any definite results. Before exploring the difference between secondary research and primary research, let us discuss the former.
Definition of Secondary Research
Secondary research involves the analysis and interpretation of an existing report. In other words, the expert does not have to go into the field or market to source new statistics. However, the person is already dealing with an existing survey. Because the stats have been analyzed and interpreted, the expert will only look for those he finds relevant and use them for further study.
It could be a report sourced from institutions like labor unions, media, colleges, associations, government agencies, and other relevant institutes. It could also be an already published report in media houses. While one may argue that this report may not be reliable, emphasis is laid on the source. The source has to be credible.
The user is also expected to reference the original source wherever it is used. The advantage of using this means to seek answers is that sourcing such reports is fast, cheap, and easy. Nevertheless, the chances are that all the facts the user desires may not be captured just the way he or she wants it.
Main Differences Between Primary vs Secondary Research
You will find the primary vs secondary research comparison table very interesting
| Basis of Comparison | Primary Research | Secondary Research |
| Meaning | A report done to get first-hand facts for many different reasons | The use of already existing report for further study or decision-making |
| Basis | This is sourced from raw stats | Analyzed and interpreted information |
| Performed by | The expert himself/herself | Someone else |
| Specification | This is carried out to meet the need of the person who conducted it | This may or may not be done to meet the specific needs of the analyst |
| Duration | It is extremely time-consuming because it is original | Sourcing this can happen in a split second because it has already been analyzed, interpreted, and maybe published |
| Cost | Doing a thorough job here is expensive | It may involve little or no cost at all |
| Convenience | It is very difficult to get | It is usually easy to get |
Difference Between Primary and Secondary Research: Conclusion
To wrap up this guide, you can see that the primary research vs secondary research concept is not as difficult as you thought. The summary is that while the former focuses on original and not previously used stats, the latter is all about using already analyzed and interpreted information.
Well, information is already processed data. Finally, this guide has explained the most essential facts about the two seemingly confusing concepts.
