He has to check whether he could access the data and the available secondary data could support him to arrive at the research objectives. The researcher has to view the secondary data with the same caution as he does with any primary data.
In accordance to Malhotra and Birks (2000) and McDaniel and Gates (2004) secondary data can be useful to Uses of secondary dataĪlthough all data is intended to provide information for analysis and decision making, secondary data can be used in several ways in the context and conduct of a research/consultancy project.
Publications from research scholars, universities and research groups- are the major sources of secondary data (Dash, 2011). Reports from international firms and foreign governments Reports from central, state or local government These data can be used in cohort studies those have been done for the same population over a period of time and also to develop area-based data sets. Multiple-source secondary data can be from either documentary or on survey data, or it could be the combination of these data. The data collected by questionnaires that have already been analyzed for their original purpose are called as survey-based secondary data. Non-written documents such as Tape and video recordings, pictures, drawings, films and television programmes, DVD/CD can also be considered as documentary data. Written documents like notices, correspondence, minutes of meetings, reports to shareholders, diaries, transcripts of speeches and administrative and public records will come under this category. Types of Secondary data (Source: )īased on the suggestions of Bryman (1989) Dale et al., (1988) Hakim, (1982 ) the secondary data is also classified into documentary data, survey based data and multiple source secondary data. Secondary data is categorised into internal (from the organization which is under observation) data which is routinely supplied by management and external (from outside the organization) data which is obtained from various resources such as internet, journals, books, directories, Non-governmental statistical data and Census data.įigure 1. Thus, the researcher should consider the secondary data which is highly valid and well-referenced in academic articles (Creswell, 2003). After arriving at the secondary data, the researcher should examine the validity and reliability. Usually, desk-based research is used to collect secondary data. When compared to primary data, these secondary data are cheaper and more quickly obtainable. The data those have been collected already and readily available from other sources are called as secondary data.