The nature and purposes of Secondary research

Secondary research is the process of collecting data that has been originally found by another individual.

Advantages

• The data is already collected
• The information that has been gathered is sometimes extensive
• Cost efficient

Disadvantages

• The findings could be out of date
• The data could be inaccurate
• Might not be specific enough

Collecting Secondary research is an advantage as it can save you valuable time that you could've spent else where in the production process. Collecting your own data (Primary research) can also have a significant cost whereas it is a lot cheaper to use Secondary research in your work. The money that you save from collecting Secondary research you could spend on different aspects of the production. It is important to remember that you have a small budget when making your short film, you do not want to spend too much money on the research process of the creation and ensure that you have enough money to spend on other significant parts of the production. In some cases the information that has been gathered in the Secondary research can be extensive. You might not be able to access certain things that have been used in order to obtain this research, furthermore it can be an advantage to include this in your work as someone else has gone and completed this already and the data is already presented for you.

However, Secondary research can be a disadvantage as the data might be out of date. Secondary research can be done at any time and can be left for the public to view however it might not stay updated. Although Secondary research can still be valuable even if it is out of date; sometimes it can only be used if it is new material or is kept updated. In many cases the data that has been collected is inaccurate and incorrect. Many individuals or organisations can make mistakes and misread information and display this, in conclusion giving you the wrong or incorrect data. Using incorrect data in your work will not give you a positive completion and can lead to you ultimately misreading this information and making mistakes from this. Secondary research can also be a disadvantage as the information that has been collected might not be specific enough regarding your topic. Unlike Primary research you will not be able to edit or tailor your material to suit your subject.