DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRIMARY DATA AND SECONDARY DATA

SN Parameter PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA

1. What is it? Meaning
Primary data are fresh (new) information collected Secondary data, on the other hand, are information
for the first time by a researcher himself for a already collected by others or somebody else and
particular purpose. It is a unique, first-hand and later used by a researcher (or investigator) to
qualitative information not published before. It is answer their questions in hand. Hence, it is also
collected systematically from its place or source of called second-hand data. It is a ready-made,
origin by the researcher himself or his appointed quantitative information obtained mostly from
agents. It is obtained initially as a result of different published sources like companies' reports,
research efforts taken by a researcher (and his statistics published by government, etc. Here the
team) with some objective in mind. It helps to required information is extracted from already
solve certain problems concerned with any known works of others (e.g. Published by a subject
domain of choice or sphere of interest. Once it is scholar or an organization, government agency,
used up for any required purpose, its original etc.). It is readily available to a researcher at his
character is lost, and it turns into secondary data. desk or place of work.

2. Data collection The primary data collection is done to accomplish Secondary data collected are truly the work of
objective some fixed objective, and obtained with some someone else done for some other purposes. It is
focus in mind. Hence, it doesn't need any prior not focused to meet the objective of the
adjustment before getting used to satisfy the researcher. As a result, it needs to be properly
purpose of an inquiry. adjusted and arranged before making its actual
use. Only after proper adjustment, it can be
accustomed to some extend for achieving the aim
of a researcher.

3. Source of Primary data are collected by a researcher (or A researcher (or investigator) does the collection of
collection investigator) at the place or source of its origin. secondary data from already existing works of
These are original or unique information. others. These are neither originals nor unique
information.

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SN Parameter PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA
4. Source of collection
Primary data are collected systematically through The collection of secondary data is from internal
following activities: and external published sources.
By conducting surveys, Internal sources of secondary data are:
Taking in-depth interviews of respondents (These Company's accounts,
are individuals who give necessary information to Sales figures,
the interviewer), Reports and records,
Through experimentation, Promotional campaigns' data,
By direct observations, Customers' feedback,
Ethnographic research (It primarily involves the Cost information,
study of an ethnic group of people and their Marketing activities, so on.
respective culture), External sources of secondary data include:
Focus groups, Data published by country's central, state and local
Participatory research, etc. governments,
Data even published by foreign governments,
Publications released by international
organizations (like the IMF, WHO, ILO, UNO,
WWF, etc.) and their subsidiary bodies,
Reports prepared by various commissions and
other appointed committees,
Results of research work published by research
institutions, universities, subject scholars,
economists, etc.,
Books, newspapers, and magazines,
Reports and journals of trade unions, industries,
and business associations,
Information released by a central bank, stock
exchanges, etc.,
Public libraries,
Archives, Directories, Databases, and Indexes,
Old historical records,

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SN Parameter PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA
Online websites, blogs, and forums.
Note: Sometimes, though rarely, even unpublished
information still available in office records can also
be used for secondary data.

5. Type of data
Primary data provide qualitative data. It means it On the contrary, secondary data, provide
gives information on subjective quality-related quantitative data. In other words, it gives
features like look, feel, taste, lightness, heaviness, information about an object or event in a numerical,
etc., of any object or phenomenon under research statistical and tabulated form like in percentages,
or inquiry. lists, tables, etc.

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SN Parameter PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA
6. Methods used
Methods used to collect primary data are as The main methods used to collect secondary data
follows: are:
Observation, experimentation and interview Desk research methods,
method, Search on the Internet,
The direct personal investigation, Going through media generated by consumers and
The indirect oral-investigation, their groups, so on.
Information collected through schedules and
questionnaires (sets of questions) via
enumerator's (a survey personnel involved in
counting and listing) method and mailing method,
Information obtained from correspondents or local
sources,
Some other minor methods:
The analysis of the content,
Consumer panels,
Use of mechanical devices,
Pantry audits,
Distributor or store audits,
Projective Techniques (PT),
Warranty cards, etc.

7. Reliability
Primary data are more reliable than secondary Secondary data are less reliable than primary data.
data. It is because primary data are collected by It is so, since, based on research work done by
doing original research and not through others and not by the researcher himself. Here,
secondary sources that may subject to some verification of published information cannot be
errors or discrepancies and may even contain out- always confirmed accurately as all references used
dated information. may not be available or mentioned in detail.

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SN Parameter PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA
8. Time consumption
Reliability of primary data comes at the expense On the contrary, collection of secondary data
of time it consumes. It is because its collection consumes less time compared to primary data. It is
goes through the following steps: because secondary data collection is mostly made
First, the researcher makes a sample (i.e. List of without interviews as follows:
respondents to approach). Here, a researcher relies heavily on ready-made
Then he prepares a questionnaire (i.e. Containing data and collects it from internal and external
a set of questions to be asked to respondents). published sources (see the point no.4).
Later, he appoints and trains a team of field He depends on already analyzed and concluded
interviewers who are supposed to interview the data by someone else to get an understanding of
respondents. his subject topic or research interest.
Finally, the researcher has to analyze the He doesn't waste time appointing field interviewers
collected data by interviewers and draw a and waiting for their data.
conclusion from it. He saves his precious work hours, and, as a result,
Accomplishment of the above procedure is not a it takes him less time to collect secondary data.
quick task, is a time-consuming one.

9. Trained Investigators required

Collection of primary data needs availability of If the availability of trained investigators and cost
trained researchers or investigators. Further, they involved in hiring them is a problem, then in such a
also need to be adequately supervised and case, secondary methods of data collection are
controlled. recommended. Its data collection doesn't need to
hire them.

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10. Cost effectiveness
Primary data collection needs the appointment of The secondary data collection doesn't require the
a team that mainly comprises of researchers, field appointment of such a team. Here, since no
interviewers, data analysts, so on. Hiring of these experts hired, cost is minimized. As a result, it is
experts and other additional costs, demands more very economical.
funds to be allocated to complete research work
on time. For this reason, it is a costly affair.

11. When are the data collected

Collection of primary data starts when secondary The secondary data collection is the priority and
data seems insufficient to solve problems economical choice for most researchers to solve
associated with the research. The researcher first an identified problem or answer objects of inquiry.
uses secondary data, if he finds that collected Here, most information extraction is done and if
information from secondary sources, is some information is unavailable only then a
inadequate, only then decides to collect primary decision to conduct primary research is taken.
data.

12. Capability to solve a problem

Primary data are fresh (new), original (unique), Secondary data, on the other hand, may be less
more accurate (almost correct), verified accurate or riddled with errors or discrepancies, not
(confirmed), satisfies a requirement (as needed), directly related (inconsistent) and even outdated
up-to-date and current (latest). It gives the (not latest). It gives only supporting and not the
required information. For this reason, it is more required information. As a result, it is less capable
capable of solving a problem. of solving a problem.

13. Suitability to meet requirement

Primary data are suitable to meet the objects of Collection of secondary data may or may not fulfill
inquiry because these are collected using the actual requirement of a researcher.
systematic methods.

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14. Bias or personal prejudice
There is a possibility of personal prejudice or bias The possibility of prejudice is absent in secondary
creeping in while collecting primary data because data because the information is not collected at
of the direct involvement of an investigator. first hand and, for this reason, is not subjected to
any bias.

15. Who collects the data?

A researcher (an investigator) or his appointed Anyone, other than those who gather primary data
agents collect the primary data. collects secondary data.

16. Precaution before using the data

The primary data collection is done systematically On the other hand, secondary data, since collected
by a researcher himself or his agents as by others for different purposes may be
instructed with great care, requirement, planning, inconsistent (not as required), outdated, unverified,
organization and followed by verification of the subjected to any errors or mistakes, etc. As a
obtained information. It is less likely that such a result, immense care must be taken while one is
well-processed data is subject to errors. considering using it. If used without precaution, it
For this reason, no extra precautions are may have an adverse impact on the quality of one's
necessary while using primary data. research and affect its credibility to a great extent.

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