What’s it: Secondary research, or desk research, is a type of research using external data sources, not original data sources.In other words, you are not first hand and therefore have no control over the accuracy of the data. On other occasions, you may need to buy published reports from analyst or research firms. Secondary research involves collecting, documenting and presenting data that is already available in stored format rather than collecting the raw data from primary sources. What are some examples of secondary sources? Second, data is increasingly available thanks to the Internet; the US Census and the CDC (health data), for example, are two great sources of data that has already been collected by someone else. Scholarly or other articles about a topic, especially by people not directly involved. The Internet is one of the most powerful tools for conducting secondary research today. If a source gives you an overview of background information or presents another researcher’s ideas on your topic, it is probably a secondary source. HSTM is an amalgamation of four separate indexes with four different subject term systems; study the results of keyword searches to be sure that you know the proper subject terms for your topic in each of the, possibly four, relevant component databases. Examples of a secondary source are: Publications such as textbooks, magazine articles, book reviews, commentaries, encyclopedias, almanacs Library Guide to the History of Science Your guide to the History of Science at Harvard. The site offers everything from interactive maps to a Census Business Builder designed to help you “determine t… A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources that are available already include books, periodicals published by governmental organizations, statistical data, annual reports, case studies and the like. As already highlighted, secondary research involves data assimilation from different sources, that is, using available research materials instead of creating a new pool of data using primary research methods. Secondary sources are created after the studied event/work took place or the studied work was created. Examples of secondary sources include; Publications such as journal articles and books Secondary data is data that has already been collected by other researchers in previous research projects and is accessed through existing publications. To help explain this difference, Ruth Finnegan distinguishes primary sources as forming the "basic and original material for providing the researcher's raw evidence" in her 2006 article "Using Documents." Books, articles and documentariesthat synthesize information on a topic 2. Web of Science Citation Indexes (Harvard Login) (for historical articles1956- ) includes articles in all areas of science. America: History and Life (Harvard login) is the primary bibliographic reference to the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. For example – sales invoices, receipts, debtors etc are all sources of internal information. Sources of secondary data includes books, personal sources, journal, newspaper, website, government record etc. Scot Ober discusses this concept in "Fundamentals of Contemporary Business Communication," saying "the source of the data is not as important as its quality and its relevance for your particular purpose. Be sure to look for MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) on pertinent records by scrolling down past the abstracts. Historical Abstracts (Harvard Login) is a reference guide to the history of the world from 1450 to the present (excluding the United States and Canada, which are covered in America: History and Life, above). This highlights that conducting primary and secondary research have both advantages and disadvantages. A secondary source may include more information about more aspects of the event than did a primary source.". Examples of secondary sources include: surveys of broad historical periods, works that focus on specific events or topics, Typically, secondary sources offer an interpretation of the past based on analysis and synthesis of primary sources. By contrast, secondary sources provide a type of back-up to their primary counterparts. Documentaries (though they often include photos or video portions that can be considered primary sources). Examples of secondary sources include: A scholarly journal article about the history of cardiology; A book about the psychological effects of WWI ; A biographical dictionary of women in science; An April 2007 newspaper or magazine article on anti-aging trends; For a historical research project, secondary sources are most often scholarly books and articles. This source of information is also considered a useful source. Besides, secondary studies give additional meaning to specific concepts. It requires very little research and need for manpower to use these sources. Well, for one thing, secondary research is often free. If you find an older article or book in a bibliography, you can use the Cited Reference Search in Web of Science to find more recent articles by seeing who has cited it. Some, therefore, argue that secondary data is neither better nor worse than primary sources—it's simply different. It has more extensive lists of resources and tools than this introductory guide does. Secondary sources involve analysis, synthesis, interpretation, or evaluation of primary sources. For a historical research project, secondary sources are most often scholarly books and articles. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary market research is when you use previously completed studies and apply the results to your own situation. In the hierarchy of the relevance of the evidence to an argument, primary sources like original documents and first-hand accounts of events provide the strongest support to any given claim. See Searching the Citation Indexes (Web of Science). Anything that summarizes, evaluates or interprets primary sources can be a secondary source. ISISCB Bibliographic Resources in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, Bibliography of British and Irish History, The Forest History Society Research Portal, Searching the Citation Indexes (Web of Science), An April 2007 newspaper or magazine article on anti-aging trends. This video describes the major characteristics of primary and secondary sources, and how they can be used in research. The word Bibliography must be searched as a Subject keyword. Some types of secondary source include:  Textbooks; journal articles; histories; criticisms; commentaries; encyclopedias. They often attempt to describe or explain primary sources. How Many Electoral Votes Does a Candidate Need to Win? It provides a holistic picture of the U.S. economy, but will also allow you to drill deep through a variety of data tools and apps. As we discussed last week, primary market research involves getting data straight from its source. Look for specialized subject bibliographies: search, e.g., <"science and state" AND China AND bibliography>  in HOLLIS and WorldCat. Secondary sources may contain pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources. Bibliographies don't always come at the end of a paper- many are independent works of their own, full of recommended sources on any given topic. In this source, the original information is selected, modified and arranged in a suitable format. To limit to historical sources, attach the phrase (in"") "historical article" to your search. Similarly, your customers and your vendors are all internal sources of information. ISISCB Bibliographic Resources in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine indexes the Isis Current Bibliography. Secondary Data by Scholars. Here are some examples of secondary market research sources. They can therefore take into consideration other events and place a primary source in its historical context. Scholarly journals, although generally considered to be secondary sources, often contain articles on very specific subjects and may be the primary source of information on new developments. Secondary research is contrasted with primary research in that primary research involves the generation of data, whereas secondary research uses primary research sources as a source of data for analysis. If the information available stems from a reputable source, then it can be incorporated to answer the project’s research questions. Secondary sources contain research findings and purpose of studies already done by other people on some subjects. Secondary sources involve generalization, analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of the original information. Many search engines, like Google, provide users with “advanced search” capabilities. For example, the Wellcome Bibliography uses "Contraception" but the Isis Current Bibliography uses "Birth control". In contrast to primary sources in research activities, secondary sources consist of information that has been gathered and often interpreted by other researchers and recorded in books, articles, and other publications. You can use the Cited Reference Search in Web of Science to find secondary source articles that cite a specified secondary or primary source article or book. Secondary market research uses data that already exists and has been collected by someone else for another purpose. #2. However, Ober warns researchers that secondary sources also come with their fair share of disadvantages including quality and scarcity of sufficient secondary data, going so far as to say "never use any data before you have evaluated its appropriateness for the intended purpose.". Census data collected by the government Synopses and descriptionsof artistic works 3. It also offers a browse of the Isis Cumulative Bibliographies (1913-1975). Some, therefore, argue that secondary data is neither better nor worse than primary sources—it's simply different. (Not all records in PubMed have MeSH terms.) Secondary research involves the summary, collation and/or synthesis of existing research. Instead, you’ll probably test its arguments again… These commercial information sources have first-hand information on economic developments, political agenda, market research, demographic segmentation and similar subjects. There are plenty of raw data sources like the US Census, Data.gov, the stock market, and countless others. You may be able to gather information and draw meaningful conclusions in a short time. Discover grammar tips, writing help, and fun English language facts. Common secondary research methods include data collection through the internet, libraries, archives, schools and organizational reports. In this case, primary resourcescontain opinions of the author on data from research. Secondary sources, while still highly useful, are written by someone else after an event or about a document and can therefore only serve the purpose of furthering an argument if the source has credibility in the field. If you have a bibliography of primary sources, then the Web of Science can be used to find secondary sources that cite a specified primary source. In her "Handbook of Research Methods," Natalie L. Sproull points out that secondary sources "are not necessarily worse than primary sources and can be quite valuable. For example: Microbes and Minie Balls: An Annotated Bibliography of Civil War Medicine (Print Only), by F. R. Freemon. They use this information to answer questions that are difficult to answer through classroom investigation. Bibliography of British and Irish History (Harvard Login) provides bibliographic data on historical writing dealing with the British Isles, and with the British empire and commonwealth, during all periods for which written documentation is available - from 55BC to the present. Therefore, secondary articles include findings and their purpose based on primary studies. Use secondary sources to obtain an overview of a topic and/or identify primary resources. For example, rather than citing an instructor’s lecture or a textbook or encyclopedia that in turn cites original research, find, read, and cite the original research directly (unless an instructor has directed you to do otherwise). Still, secondary sources can also provide hindsight to historical events, providing the context and missing pieces of narratives by relating each event to others happening nearby at the same time. These sources will give you limited information with regards to the external environment. More detailed information about the use of this complex database. The Census Bureau is a goldmine of information on populations, demographics, market sizes, and more. This data source lies within the organization. Subject headings can help you get to more relevant records and/or can be helpful keyword suggestions. Secondary sources, while still highly useful, are written by someone else after an event or about a document and can therefore only serve the purpose of furthering an argument if the source has credibility in the field. In terms of evaluations of documents and texts, secondary sources offer unique perspectives like historians have on the impact of bills such as the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution. Secondary sources are not evidence but rather commentary on and discussion of evidence. Some social sciences material is included. Example: "Psychology, clinical" and "historical article". Sources of Secondary Data Secondary data comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Often, secondary market research sources are readily available. Secondary data are known to be readily available compared to that of primary data. This differs from secondary market research, which involves relying on research conducted by someone else, like other businesses or governmental agencies. It can be polls, interviews, focus group reports — all the types of data you might initiate first-hand for your own purposes, but which was initiated by others and therefore isn’t tailored to your project or needs. Secondary research, however, is data that was collected by others for their own purposes. For example, a secondary source interprets, summarizes, and analyzes primary data. Using search tools can help narrow down search results to what is … If possible, as a matter of good scholarly practice, find the primary source, read it, and cite it directly rather than citing a secondary source. These studies are easy enough to find via an internet search or by researching marketing journals and, on the upside, are usually free or low cost. PubMed (Harvard Login for full text access) (1947- ) is the National Library of Medicine's index to biomedical journal articles. At times, an Internet search can be adequate. For a historical research project, secondary sources are generally scholarly books and articles. Research institutes like C.S.O, Indian Statistical Institute, and N.S.S.O publish data collected by them for public use. For example, you don’t know whether the data is representative or not. Why? Secondary research is mainly preferred in circumstances where the time needed for the research is limited and the cost of doing the research is also limited. Identify Satire (Fake) Vs. Real News: Lesson Plan for Grades 9-12, How to Use Libraries and Archives for Research, Five Steps to Verifying Online Genealogy Sources, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York. A secondary source is one that gives information about a primary source. History of Science, Technology and Medicine (Harvard Login)  (1975- ) is an index of books, book chapters, and journal articles. More information. External secondary data, on … The research which involves analysis, interpretation and summarization of primary research, is called secondary research. There may already be a detailed list of sources, a bibliography, for your topic. can also be considered secondary data. Scholars research various research problems and publish information collected by them. Secondary sources can also be used as direct evidence for (or against) a theory or hypothesis which you are investigating (though always check the primary sources that these secondary accounts rely upon). Secondary sources describe, analyse, interpret or draw conclusions from a primary source. A secondary source is anything that describes, interprets, evaluates, or analyzes information from primary sources. Commercial information sources: Local newspapers, journals, magazines, radio and TV stations are a great source to obtain data for secondary research. Rutherford: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1993, 253 pp. However, when you have to conduct internal analysis, the information received from internal data is critical. Internal company data like customer details, sales figures, employee timecards, etc. Common examples include: 1. Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy, This guide serves as an introductory-level companion to our Library Research Guide for the History of Science, Exploring the Special Collections at Harvard, https://guides.library.harvard.edu/HistSciInfo, Library Research Guide for the History of Science: Introduction, A scholarly journal article about the history of cardiology, A book about the psychological effects of WWI, A biographical dictionary of women in science, History of Science, Technology and Medicine. Search results extend back to 1970. Most often though, secondary sources act as a way to keep up with or discuss progress in a field of study, wherein a writer may use another's observations on a topic to summarize his or her own viewpoints on the matter to progress the discourse further. Secondary market research is usually thought of in terms of two categories: Information from internal sources (held by a particular company or agency), and information from external sources (held outside of a particular business enterprise, organization, or agency). Encyclopedias and textbooksthat summarize information and ideas 4. Secondary research is normally presented with a number of data and sources. The Forest History Society Research Portal offers over 45,000 citations to published items on environmental history, over 30,000 photographs, and other material. Common examples of secondary sources include academic books, journal articles, reviews, essays, and textbooks. The Difference Between Primary and Secondary Data, Advantages and Disadvantages of Secondary Data, 6 Skills Students Need to Succeed in Social Studies Classes. With their American FactFinder, for example, you can enter a state, city, or zip code and the tool will generate economic, social, household, and demographic data for that area. Secondary Market Research . Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. Secondary Market Research From Internal Sources Sources of secondary data can come from within the firm itself – this is known as internal secondary data. Secondary sources were created by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in the events or conditions you’re researching. Through online research, one may uncover case studies, news articles, government websites, or statistics from previous market research projects. Reviews and essaysthat evaluate or interpret something When you cite a secondary source, it’s usually not to analyze it directly. Analysis or interpretation of data. ", Secondary sources also provide advantages unique from primary sources, but Ober posits that the major ones are economic saying that "using secondary data is less costly and time-consuming than collecting primary data.". Secondary sources can include: Most books about a topic. In finer terms, the research in which data is obtained from readily available sources is secondary. Besides the above mentioned sources of marketing research, there are many other sources of supplying secondary data e.g., colleges and universities stock exchanges and commodity exchanges, specialised libraries’, internal sources such as sales and purchase records, salesman, reports, sales orders, customer complaints and records of other companies. 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