What distinguishes primary research from secondary research?

Primary research is characterized by the collection of new data that has not previously been gathered. This involves designing and conducting original studies, surveys, interviews, or experiments specifically tailored to answer particular questions or to address specific issues that the researcher is investigating. By directly engaging with a target population or conducting experiments, researchers can obtain data that closely aligns with their research objectives.

This contrasts with secondary research, which utilizes existing data that has already been collected and published by others. Secondary research involves synthesizing and analyzing information from sources like books, journal articles, and previously conducted studies. While secondary research can provide helpful background information and context, it does not offer the unique insights that can come from new data tailored to current research needs.

The other responses do not accurately capture the essence of the distinction. For example, primary research is not inherently faster than secondary research since collecting new data often requires more time and resources. Also, primary research does not use existing data; that is the defining feature of secondary research. Finally, while it is true that primary research is often more costly due to the resources needed for new data collection, this is not always the case as the cost can vary significantly depending on the scale and approach of the research project.