Primary vs. Secondary Research
When conducting research, when is it conducive to use primary research over secondary research and vice versa? Both research techniques are viable and beneficial. They each have purpose and can be used as a marketing research template when conducting research. Both techniques are equipped with tools that can be used to guide a researcher through the research process. If these tools are properly adhered to, the research process can be seamless and quite effective. Moreover, market research can assist a researcher in making accurate decisions and improve the chance of success. This paper will explain the difference among research tools used in primary and secondary research. It will also depict the differences in primary and secondary research when using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Additionally, it will indicate which tools are used for each approach and why.
Primary Research Tools
Primary marketing research is tailored to a company's particular needs. It is conducted by an individual or by an outsourced research firm. It gathers information directly from the source. “Primary sources of information is information you gather direct from the source. This information is more time consuming to gather but it does ensure that you have information that is directly relevant and timely” (Karen Paiyo). There are various research tools used when conducting primary research. These tools include interviews, focus groups, surveys, and observation. Each can be extremely effective. Interviews (one-on-one conversations with prospective purchasers) are excellent for testing of research hypotheses. They give tremendous insight regarding a product or service. Focus groups (groups meeting consisting of a ...
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...primary research that gathers vast amounts of information. Quantitative research is a derivative of secondary research and is associated with the gathering of data, as in numbers, height, weight etc. In order for either research to effective, the proper research tool must be used in its right context. If not, the research will prove to be a less adequate one.
Works Cited
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The methodology of this research project included both qualitative methods and quantitative methods. The qualitative methods were used for primarily background information and specific examples of respondents that would be considered part of the target market. The quantitative methods included a distributed survey and a collection and analysis of the results using statistical software.
According to Smith (1983) quantitative research is to explain, predict and develop laws that can be universally applied and Qualitative research is the interpretation and understanding of what people give to their situation. The researchers clearly stated the purpose of their studies, aim, objectiv...
Research can be quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative research is objective and involves measuring the phenomena under investigation. Qualitative research is subjective, explores experiences and feelings, and involves the recording of phenomena that cannot easily be quantified (Toates, 2010, pp. 5-6). Both are empirical since they involve data collection (OU, n.d.).
Advertising and promotion research: provide information on the most suitable method of promotion, media, and the effectiveness of the communications in achieving objectives. Product research: provides information on opportunities for new product development, product design requirements, and comparative performance. Distribution research: provide information on suitable distribution methods, the appropriateness of channel members, the best location for warehouses and retail outlets. Sales research: provide information on the effectiveness of sales methods and techniques, establishing sales territories, the adequacy of remuneration methods, sales training requirements. Marketing environment research: provide information on political influences, economic influences, social influences, technological influences.
Quantitative research may be seen as the less contentious of the two because it is more closely aligned with what is viewed as the classical scientific paradigm. Quantitative research involves gathering data that is absolute, for example numerical data so that it can be examined as unbiased as possible. The main idea behind quantitative research is that it is able to separate things easily so that they can be counted. The researcher generally has a clear idea of what is being measured before they start measuring it, and their study is set up with controls. Qualitative research on the other hand is a more subjective form of research, in which the research allows themselves to introduce their own bias to help form a more complete picture. Qualitative research may be necessary in situations where it is unclear of what is exactly being looked for in a study, while quantitative research generally knows exactly what it is looking for. Questionnaires and surveys are quantitative socio-legal research, because it is the collection of numerical data, or data that can be easily being turned into a numerical form. In terms of analysing quantitative data, Excel is the b...
On the other hand, Quantitative research refers to “variance theory” where quantity describes the research in terms of statistical relationships between different variables (Maxwell, 2013). Quantitative research answers the questions “how much” or “how many?” Quantitative research is an objective, deductive process and is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defined variables with generalized results from a larger sample population. Much more structured than qualitative research, quantitative data collection methods include various forms of surveys, personal interviews and telephone interviews, polls, and systematic observations. Methods can be considered “cookie cutter” with a predetermined starting point and a fixed sequence of
We conducted secondary research at initial stage to mainly gain background information on music streaming industry. During our secondary research, we referred to more than 20 articles from reliable sources like database from GGU and articles from websites like WSJ and New York Times. After completing secondary research we met as a group and discussed our idea and findings. During reading article we found some interesting facts about music streaming services it also answered some of our questions like who were major companies is industry? , how was these companies making profits?
Primary research is new data that is gathered by conducting different methods of marketing research.
Polaris Marketing Research (2008). Marketing Research Process: An Overview. Retrieved May 8, 2008, from http://www.polarismr.com/edctr_overview.html
Businesses want information to make decision about their management as well as specify their strategy to survive in market. Managers need to access, develop, analyse and distribute information to help them making decision. Marketing research is the way to gather information in area that link to consumer to figure out what they want to contribute company opportunity in market as well as organization developing because of uncertainly market need. There is several method of marketing research that company can use for improve their products or services. Depending on analysis procedure, qualitative research and quantitative research are used to highlight. Moreover, each method leads to different result. (Malhotra et al 2001) However, marketing research should be qualitative which give researchers a depth data that sufficient for interpretation. This information can be used to determine business plan, company’s strategy and also providing goods or product that market need on time.
Marketing research is the first important step that a marketer has to do before creating marketing plan and launching a product or service domestically or internationally. Knowing that creating an effective marketing strategy will help identify the target customer needs then find ways to capture the intended customer's attention with a unique value proposition and finally get the customer to perform the intended action. Marketing research requires company to spend resources to obtain in many different research activities such as marketing testing, surveys, finding out more data and statistics. There are primarily two types of marketing research, primary data research that a business can do itself or hire someone to perform. This data is collected specifically for the purpose at hand and is customized for your business. Marketing research is the planning, collection, and analysis of data relevant to marketing decision making and the communication of this analysis to management which provides information to make better decisions at every stage of marketing plan strategy. Usually, there are 7 steps that marketers take when they conduct in a marketing research. First, marketer needs to identify problems and state research objectives. Ultimate goal is to develop clear, concise, and meaningful marketing research objectives Development of an approach to the problem. This stage includes objectives of conducting research, formulating conceptual framework, analytical models, research questions, developing hypotheses, and identifying the information needed. This process is guided by discussions with management and industry experts, analysis of secondary data, qualitative research and pragmatic considerations. Understand the decision-making e...
Primary marketing research is collected for the first time if the company has enough money to finance it, but in most case it is the second more accurate one. It is original and collected for a specific purpose, or to solve a specific problem. Primary research delivers more specific results than secondary research, more expensive and time consuming, which are an especially important consideration when the company is launching a new product or service. There are many ways to conduct primary research. By customizing tried-and-true approaches, focus groups, surveys, field tests, interviews or observation, you can gain information about your target market. Primary research is generally based on sampling techniques and requires statistical methodologies. The sample size could be as small as 1 percent of the market and thus the information and results gathered are highly accurate.
Marketing research provides organizations with information to aid in decision making and marketing strategies (Peter & Donnelly, 2015, p. 32). Marketing research can test consumer reactions to a new product ideas and services and tell you how your product ranks among competitors, to name a few examples. Marketing research methods can be categorized as primary/secondary data research, quantitative research such as surveys, observations, experimental and mathematical models, or qualitative research such as focus groups and interviews. Additionally, the research can be used to determine the target audience for specific products/services and can guide marketing professionals on how to best communicate the product/service.
On the other hand, quantitative research allows you to test hypothesis derived from theories, associated with the issues being investigated. It is less flexible, as there are standardized procedures and techniques for collecting, organizing and analyzing the data (Kuada, 2012).
On the other hand, weaknesses existed. The primary research was the most difficult and frustrating sector, for it was difficult to keep in touch with the potential competitors; hence, a chance to learn more and analyse deeper from the potential competitors was missed. To conclude, the result and analysis of primary and market research which was based on the questionnaire was not convincing enough, and it was the main sector which needed to improve in the future.