Quantitive, Qualitative, Primary, Secondary Research

To start our next module, the task was to collect four different types of research in text form (no imagery). I had an idea what each different type of research was but it's always good to look them up in further detail to get a better understanding before i begin my research. 

Qualitative & Quantitative Research

World English Dictionary

quantitative or quantitive  (ˈkwɒntɪtətɪv, -ˌteɪ-)
— adj
1.	Compare qualitative involving or relating to considerations ofamount or size
2.	capable of being measured
quantitive or quantitive
— adj
'quantitatively or quantitive
— adv
'quantitively or quantitive
— adv

 Source // DICTIONARY

A couple of examples for qualitative and quantitative would be...

Quantitive // The man is six feet tall

Qualitative // The man is tall

Quantitive // The cat weighs 20 pounds 

Qualitative // The cat is fat. 

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.

The term primary research is widely used in academic research, market research and competitive intelligence.

There are advantages and disadvantages to primary research.

Advantages:

• Addresses specific research issues as the researcher controls the search design to fit their needs
• Great control; not only does primary research enable the marketer to focus on specific subjects, it also enables the researcher to have a higher control over how the information is collected. Taking this into account, the researcher can decide on such requirements as size of project, timeframe and goal.

Disadvantages:

• Compared to secondary research, primary data may be very expensive in preparing and carrying out the research. Costs can be incurred in producing the paper for questionnaires or the equipment for an experiment of some sort.
• In order to be done properly, primary data collection requires the development and execution of a research plan. It takes longer to undertake primary research than to acquire secondary data.
• Some research projects, while potentially offering information that could prove quite valuable, may not be within the reach of a researcher.
• By the time the research is complete it may be out of date.
• Low response rate has to be expected.

An example of primary research: the government wants to know if people are pleased with how the government is being run, so they hand out questionnaires to the public asking if they are happy and, if not, how to improve.

Source // WIKIPEDIA

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.^[1]

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^[2] 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.

In a market research context, secondary research is taken to include the re-use by a second party of any data collected by a first party or parties.

In archaeology and landscape history, desk research is contrasted with fieldwork.

Sometimes secondary research is required in the preliminary stages of research to determine what is known already and what new data is required, or to inform research design. At other times, it may be the only research technique used.

A key performance area in secondary research is the full citation of original sources, usually in the form of a complete listing or annotated listing.

Secondary sources could include previous research reports, newspaper, magazine and journal content, and government and NGO statistics.

Source // WIKIPEDIA

shortened down into my own words...

Primary research is direct research collected directly by myself from a source. The advantages mean that i can collect the exact information that i want and need and can control the search to fit my needs. The disadvantages could be in cost and time. Costing money to get questionnaires printed etc. and also doing the correct research to make sure your sourcing the correct information you need. Generally more difficult than secondary. 

Secondary research is much more easier but often not as reliable but as long as you stick with trusted sources is usually good. There is not as much preparation, time and cost put into secondary research but another disadvantage is not getting the exact research you want. You cannot make it yourself, you need to search for something that has already ben curated by somebody else. 

I will now begin my task of collecting all these types of information.