What defines secondary research?

Secondary research is defined as the analysis and interpretation of data that has already been collected and compiled by others. This type of research utilizes existing sources, such as reports, studies, or statistics produced by third parties, to gain insights into a topic or issue.

When you engage in secondary research, you are effectively leveraging the findings, conclusions, and data generated by researchers, organizations, or publications that conducted the research initially. This is different from primary research, where you would collect your own data through methods like surveys or focus groups.

The emphasis on third-party research is crucial because it highlights the use of pre-existing data, which can save time and resources while allowing researchers to analyze information that may have been gathered in different contexts or for other purposes.