Question

What is an advantage of secondary data over primary data?

1) The data already exists
2) Original research intent could be difficult to determine
3) It is time consuming to gather
4) It is unique to its purpose of research

Answer 1

Secondary data has the advantage of already existing, saving time and resources in research. It does not influence subject behavior and can be reinterpreted to provide new insights into a topic. However, challenges like accessibility and data accuracy verification remain.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the advantages of secondary data is that it already exists, making it less time-consuming and less costly compared to gathering primary data. Secondary data is considered nonreactive or unobtrusive research because it does not involve direct contact with subjects and thus does not alter or influence their behaviors. This type of data can be anything from old movies, WHO statistics, periodicals, newspapers, magazines, books, articles, or any previously published data. Using this data, researchers can add depth to their studies by applying new interpretations to the existing information. However, it is crucial to be aware of the challenges associated with secondary data, such as the potential difficulty in accessing public records and verifying the accuracy of the data.