Question

What is the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary research? When is each kind of research best used? What kind of research should you generally be using in your business courses?

Answer 1

Answer - Research refers to finding or investigating something so that one can reach to some conclusions. Thus, for such research the source of data is relevant and that is why such souce is often recognized as primary, secondary and tertiary. These classifications are generally based on the type of data available that is, it’s genuinity and originality or proximity.

Primary research refers to the collection of first hand data for a particular problem or issue. It is generally captured by making questionnaires, interviews, observations etc. It is the data which is first hand and purely original in form. Examples of primary research are speeches, memo, jounals or reports etc.

Secondary research refers to using the data which is already obtained or created at the primary level for analytical purpose or research purpose. It is called second hand data or summary of the primary data. Examples of secondary research are edited or altered work, biographies, summary of data etc.

Tertiary research refers to the consolidated data obtained at the primary level and the secondary level. It can be used for tesearch level or analytical purpose if used at secondary level. Examples of tertiary research are encyclopaedia, dictionary etc.

Business courses generally require primary data as well as secondary data. The simple reason is because the need of questionaire arises when primary data is concerned. The project work in business courses which involves sampling shall be conducted on the basis of primary data only. And the other concepts in business courses require the data which secondary and obtained from other journals and business manuals. Thus, the business courses generally require the use of tertiary research ie., compilation of primary as well as secondary data.