Types of Research: Primary and Secondary Research

This document provides an overview of different types of research methods, including primary and secondary research. It explains the difference between quantitative and qualitative research and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The document also includes references to relevant books and journals.

WORLD

TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESEARCH.....................................................................................................................................1
Types of Research........................................................................................................................1
Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research .......................................................1
Types of quantitative and qualitative research ............................................................................2
Advantages and disadvantage of the research methods ..............................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

RESEARCH
Careful consideration of the study regarding the specific concern or problem using the
scientific method. Research is systematic inquiry to explain, describe, predict and to control
observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.
Research is also described as creation of the new knowledge and use of the existing
knowledge in creative and new manner for generating the new concepts, understandings and
methodologies (Allan, 2020). The definition encompasses applied research, basic research and
the experimental development.
Types of Research
Primary Research
It is defined as the methodology used by the researchers for collecting data directly,
instead of depending on the data collected from the previously done studies or research. Primary
researchers own data. It is solely carried out for addressing certain problem that requires the in-
depth analysis. Researchers could conduct the primary research or employ third party for
conducting the research on its behalf. Many research are conducted for making informed
decisions gathering own data which is authentic and first hand without alterations. Example;
Interviews, online surveys, observations and focus groups.
Secondary Research
It research method which involves use of existing data. The existing data is collected and
summarised for increasing overall effectiveness of the research. Secondary research include the
materials published in the research reports and the similar documents. It could be made available
through the public public libraries, data obtained from the already filled surveys etc (Lin, Li,
and Wang, 2017). Non - government and government agencies store data which could be used
for the research purpose and could be retrieved from these sources. Example; data available on
web, government agencies, public libraries and commercial information sources.
Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research
Qualitative Quantitative
It is concerned with the understanding of
human behaviour from perspective of the
informant. The research assumes negotiated
and dynamic reality.
In this research data is collected through
It is concerned with discovering facts related to
social phenomenon. This research assumes
measurable and fixed reality.
The data is also collected through the
measuring things. Information is analysed
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observation of the participants and interviews.
The data is analysed by the themes from
descriptions by the informants.
through the statistical interferences and the
numerical comparisons (Giones and Brem,
2017). In this research statistical analysis is
used for reporting data.
Types of quantitative and qualitative research
Quantitative Qualitative
 Structured Interviews
 Surveys
 Observations
 Review of records or numeric
information
 Focus groups
 In-depth interviews
 Review of document for types of
themes
Advantages and disadvantage of the research methods
Research Method Advantages Disadvantages
Interview Interviewee cannot provide wrong
information like age, gender or
race
It is expensive method as involves
staff for performing the interviews.
Questionnaires &
Surveys
It provides hundreds or
respondents could be conducted
quickly. They are available online
sources and are easily accessible.
They are very cost efficient.
Surveys could not provide honest
answers. More of the questions could
be left unanswered.
Focus Groups It is easy in measuring reaction of
the customers. Questions could be
asked for gaining deeper
understanding of emotions of the
respondents.
They have high cost. Moderators
could have significant impact over
outcome of discussion. Participants
could not give the honest answers.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Allan, G., 2020. Qualitative research. In Handbook for research students in the social
sciences (pp. 177-189). Routledge.
Lin, X., Li, Y. and Wang, X., 2017. Social commerce research: Definition, research themes and
the trends. International Journal of Information Management. 37(3). pp.190-201.
Giones, F. and Brem, A., 2017. Digital technology entrepreneurship: A definition and research
agenda. Technology Innovation Management Review. 7(5).
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