Primary and Secondary Research data

Primary

Research that requires the collection or generation of original data. 

Information is collected or generated by the researcher rather than by using available information in databases and other publications. Often this type of research is conducted with the goal of producing new knowledge with the aim to answer questions that haven't been answered or asked before. Some examples include:

• Surveys
• Interviews
• Observation
• Data analysis
• Focus groups
• Experiments
• Conference proceedings
• Interviews
• Journals
• Lab notebooks
• Patents
• Preprints
• Technical reports
• Theses and dissertations

Secondary

Data that has been organized and published by others (primary research sources). Secondary research is widely used in legal and market research. In the sciences, a common use is systematic review. Some examples include: