Primary research involves collecting original data through methods like questionnaires, interviews, observations, and testing. Secondary research summarizes and analyzes existing research, rather than primary data collection. It is commonly used in medical and market research to synthesize findings from multiple primary studies through systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Examples of primary research include questionnaires, interviews, and observations, while secondary research relies on published reports and studies.

1. Primary and secondary
research

2. Primary research
• Primary research consists in research to
collect original primary data. It is often
undertaken after the researcher has
gained some insight into the issue by
collecting secondary data. This can be
through numerous forms, including
questionnaires, direct observation and
telephone interviews amongst others.

3. Secondary research
• Secondary research (also known as desk research)
involves the summary, collation and/or synthesis of
existing research rather than primary research, where
data is collected from, for example, research subjects or
experiments.
• The term is widely used in medical research and in
market research. The principal methodology in medical
secondary research is the systematic review, commonly
using meta-analytic statistical techniques, although other
methods of synthesis, like realist reviews and meta-
narrative reviews, have been developed in recent years.
Such secondary research uses the primary research of
others typically in the form of research publications and
reports.

4. Primary examples
• Questionnaires Interviews
• Surveys
• Observations
• and testing

5. Secondary examples