School of Civil, Environmental, and Geotechnical Engineering

Methods of Research
Chapter 9

USING SECONDARY DATA

Learning Objectives:

In the end of this chapter, the student is expected to learn the following:
1. Differentiate the primary and secondary data.
2. Apprehend the importance of secondary data.
3. Gather, manage, and utilize secondary data.
4. Evaluate the validity and quality of the secondary data.

Overview:
1. Introduction
2. Secondary data
3. Differentiating the primary and secondary data
4. Secondary data: Advantages and disadvantages
5. Evaluating the utility of the data available
6. Using secondary data appropriately

1. INTRODUCTION

The collection, interpretation and conclusion of data are important for researchers. These
data are classified into two: the primary and secondary. Secondary data exist for a reason and it
is for when a researcher has limited access to primary data. There are times when the primary
sources are not accessible to the researcher, especially if the access to the primary sources would
take a lot of effort, time and money. This is especially true for those working on limited. Thus,
secondary sources in this case could be most helpful to carry out the research project. Through
secondary sources, researchers get a wider access to as many sources of secondary data as they
can. It presents convenience to the researchers and it provides the needed data with less expense
than in conducting it themselves.

Primary data are first-hand accounts. The researcher collected them by himself. When
conducting research, he must ensure that the data required for the study are accessible and
available. As discussed from the previous chapters, one of the fundamental things to consider in
choosing a research project is that the project must be ‘researchable’ or in technical term, it must
be feasible. A researcher cannot pursue a research if the data needed for the research is
unavailable or inaccessible. If he is beginning to consider the types of data, it is suggested for
him to take the research process model into consideration and have a second look. The research
process model shows how the researcher makes the final decision about the data.

As the Figure 9.1 shows, the data collection process will only be determined after the
selection of research methodology. The conclusion around the research methodology and (data
collection) method(s) tend to be done when the literature review is completed or in near
completion. This is due to the reason that the researcher needs to learn first from the literature or
study about the research that already exists for him to know or discover things that are unknown.

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The researcher will then proceed to the development of their research project around the element
of already known explanation about the phenomenon under investigation, to make sure that the
research done resulted to contribution to knowledge. Another factor onto why the researcher
doesn’t make conclusions around methodology and methods is that they may discover new ideas
and insights about the methodology and methods that are possible to use in their research project
from reading literature related to the research.

Figure 9.1: Research Process Flow Chart

Retrieved from Silva, D. L., (2016). “Research Methods: Structuring Inquiries and Empirical
Investigations”. Valenzuela, Philippines: JO-ES Publishing House, Inc.
In a research project, the decision about the use of secondary sources is a part of the
methodological framework. In a research project, the methodological framework is part of
fundamental frameworks approach. It came from the conceptual framework. There are factors
affecting methodological decisions such as the focus and aim of the project trying to accomplish.
Figure 9.2 shows how a conceptual framework branches into the theoretical, methodological, and
analytical framework.

Figure 9.2 Methodological framework is the product of the conceptual framework.

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Methods of Research
Retrieved from Silva, D. L., (2016). “Research Methods: Structuring Inquiries and Empirical
Investigations”. Valenzuela, Philippines: JO-ES Publishing House, Inc.
2. SECONDARY DATA
Secondary sources produce secondary data. These data already existed and presented by
other researchers. For convenience, researchers use secondary data to relieve themselves from
creating their own data. Primary data are the exact opposite because researchers initiated,
originated, and created this kind of data themselves. On the other hand, secondary data are often
formulated from a primary source.
One of the important things to be considered in doing a research project is that the project
should be researchable. A project cannot be started if the needed data is neither accessible nor
inaccessible. If the primary data is unavailable and/or inaccessible, secondary data is particularly
important for researchers.
3. DIFFERENTIATING THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA

It may be a hard task differentiating these two types of data. A source can either be
primary or secondary at different contexts.

Primary sources are first-hand sources of evidence or proof that the researcher creates
and/or collects on his own. Another name for primary sources is original sources. Primary
sources are unfiltered and directly sourced by the researcher of an event, object or person. This
type of sources provides original information and results of whatever the researcher is observing.
Furthermore, the researcher who reads primary sources are expected to have expertise or
foundational knowledge of the subject matter or discipline because primary sources frequently
do not give details clarifying or expanding in detail theoretical principles and terminologies. The
following are kinds of primary sources:

• Archives and manuscript material • Government publications

• Art objects • Historical and legal documents
• Artefacts such as clothing, furniture, etc. • Journals, letters and diaries
• Audio and video recordings • Newspapers and magazine clippings
• Completed questionnaires and scales published at the time
• Creative works such as music, novels and • Photographs
poetry • Published books
• Experimental results • Speeches
• Eyewitness accounts • Statistical data
• Films

As can be observed, primary sources are almost any artefact. The only criterion is that it
must be an original account of a certain phenomenon.

On the other hand, secondary sources are often second-hand accounts of an event. They
are built from a primary source and are often written about the primary source. It does not give
exact or original information. The researcher who didn’t personally either witness or experience

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a phenomenon produces the secondary data. The researcher only collected an account from the
testimony of other people who actually experienced the phenomenon. Secondary sources are
reference that came from primary sources. They are often affected by the researcher’s view and
opinion. Researchers give their comments, conduct analysis, and interpret or discuss the primary
sources. Secondary source is written for a general audience. This includes the definition, history
and significance of the topic related to the study, and also the summary of major studies. The
kinds of secondary sources are shown in Figure 9.3 and are listed as follows.

• Abstracts • News articles

• Bibliographies • Reference books
• Biographical works • Scholarly books
• History books • Textbooks
• Indexes • Works of criticism and interpretation,
• Literature reviews commentaries and treatises

Figure 9.3: Secondary Source Material

Retrieved from https://francinemassue.weebly.com/secondary-sources.html =ph-se2

Unlike the primary source, the only criterion is for it to be not first-hand accounts. Here
are examples of application of secondary sources:

Case study: The case study below is about the human resource management in the marketplace.
The researcher cites references from different authors to support the researcher’s claim. The
proper citation is observed as you read.

“Human resources (HR) outcome is an indicator of an organizational performance. It

should be strategically managed in order to be on top of the marketplace competition. Starbucks,

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a Seattle-based world low company, shows a strong strategy in HR and this strategy became one
of the best examples for all giant organizations. Human capital is a huge investment for any
organization that’s why an effective strategy is needed to reach goals and objectives. HR
activities should know the relevant action that will come up to the success of the company
(Cania, 2014). Starbucks has its mission as stated, “Inspire and nurture the human spirit: one
person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time” (Starbucks, 2015, para. 4). It follows its
mission by moral product sourcing, green processes and good employment practice. They also
provide services within its community. When recession came, Starbucks has its motto renewed
as stated, “Great low everywhere”. It is developed into incorporate international locations and
at-home merchandise (Noe, et. al, 2013). The thesis states the overall assessment of the case
study. The background of the organization will be discussed on the primary section of the study.

Starbucks claimed to be the frontrunner within the next low-retailer generation (Sacks,
2014). Unlike the other giant corporations, Starbucks partners and area unit are inspired to hitch
young build their career with the organization. Starbucks’ Partner Resources Department handle
the HR area unit with five hundred staff: compensation and advantages, learning and
development, partner services, staffing, and structure development (Starbucks, n.d.). Researchers
Korschun, Bhattacharya, and Youngman (2014) describe the employee’s impact as staff who can
adopt recommended geographic point behaviors and be impelled to support the company’s
merchandise and types. Nevertheless, previous analysis additionally prompts America to
recommend this result is mediate by the employee’s client orientation. Identification is
understood to encourage behaviors that profit the collective. Thus, the additional associate
worker identifies with the organization, the additional he or she is going to request opportunities
to contribute to company performance. as a result of serving customers’ wants could be a key
method that frontline staff facilitate the corporate maintain and deepen relationships with those
customers, such staff might read their own efforts to contribute to client loyalty as serving to
drive long-run structure success (p. 24). Starbucks must keep its partners happy to make its
customers happy, too.”

Published Book: Table 9.1 shows that the National Structural Code of the Philippines 2010
(NSCP 2010) and the American Society of Civil Engineers 7 (ASCE 7) and International
Building Code (IBC) has almost the same value of live load for school. NSCP 2010 adopted its
value from the ASCE 7 while ASCE 7 adopted its value from the IBC. The IBC is the primary
source of the data used by the ASCE and NSCP.

Table 9.1: An excerpt of the live load value for school from different building codes.
Building Code
Category Description NSCP 2010 ASCE 7 IBC
Classrooms 1.9 1.92 1.92
Schools Corridors above
3.8 3.83 3.83
ground floors

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It is a necessity when reading literature that the researcher knows how to differentiate and
distinguish primary sources from secondary sources. Academically speaking, the use of primary
sources is important. Many researchers or students commit this mistake and fail to meet these
standards by using and quoting the secondary sources when they should be using primary
sources in the first place. In other terms, instead of just reading and quoting from these sources,
they should be writing and quoting directly from primary source itself. The original data can only
be retrieved from primary sources while its discussion and analysis is retrieved on the secondary
sources. In any literature review, it is not recommendable to formulate a theoretical framework
from secondary sources, but instead it is important to formulate them by using a primary source.

4. SECONDARY DATA: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantage of Using Secondary Data

a. Save effort, money and time for the researcher. The cost of purchasing secondary data will
always be lesser compared to the expenditure needed to collect a similar data set. The reason for
being cheaper is because the researcher will no longer hire additional manpower and aid to
conduct collection of data which usually demands accommodation, employee wages, foods and
transportation. But since the secondary data is already available, compiled, and kept in a digital
format, the researcher can devote extra time in data analysis.

b. Extensiveness of the data set available. The government and other private institutions have
numerous studies on an enormous scale that an individual researcher finds it difficult to
accumulate a huge amount of data. Data sets were mostly longitudinal. This means that in
different time periods, the same data has been collected from the same population. This allows
researcher to observe how the phenomena change over time and eluded out-dated data.

c. Recurring of data collection process maintains a level of expertise with high regard for
validity and reliability. For example, data collection for government is regularly executed by
staff members who specialize in a certain tasks. The staff members repeatedly collect data and
the data that they gathered becomes reliable because of the countless years of experience
executing that specific task. Some of the smaller research projects fail to achieve this level of
expertise because data collections were usually done by part-time working students and
volunteers.

d. Helps the collection of primary data to be more detailed and exact. Secondary data will be
able to compensate the gaps and deficiencies in research works. It will also provide additional
information needed to support the research project. The secondary data will also act as a basis of
assessing the problem and evaluating the data gathered by the researcher.

Disadvantages of Using Secondary Data

a. Unfitted in the research framework process. An example of this is the unit of measurement
being used for the secondary data set that does not fit the required unit of the required parameters
of research. Therefore, data collected previously will have no value to the research.

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b. Secondary data does not answer the specific questions of the research or lacks needed
information to satisfy the researcher’s desire for his study. The data might have been collected in
different geographic region, with different inhabitants, on a different year that the researcher
intended to study. For example, a researcher interested in studying in waste plastic PET
(polyethylene Terephthalate) might discover that the secondary data set only comprises waste
plastic PP (polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene) only.

c. Researcher cannot manipulate whatever the data set contained. Every so often, this situation
can either limit the investigation or modify the original objectives that the researcher might want
to know. An interrelated setback is that the variables have been defined or categorized
differently than the researcher would have preferred or selected. For example, a researcher
fascinated in experimenting on partial replacements of coarse aggregates using recycled concrete
with embedded fly ash in concrete being subjected to fire but could acquire a secondary data set
that only includes a data on partial replacements of coarse aggregates using recycled concrete,
but without embedded fly ash in concrete, only one of the variables, but not all and no
classification of being introduced to fire.

d. Accuracy, reliability and validity of the secondary source. The researcher who uses
secondary data is not usually aware to the information about the data collected. He is also not
privy about the effect of complications of the data gathered, such as its low response rate or
respondent misunderstanding the specific survey questions, in his study. At times, statistics and
information were immediately available, as so with the case of many government data sets.
However, many secondary data sets are not accompanied by this variety of information. The
analyst must improvise to learn to read between the lines in order to find out any potential
restrictions of the data.

5. EVALUATING THE UTILITY OF THE DATA AVAILABLE

Not all data available online is useful to use. It is an important aspect for the researcher to
be able to evaluate the value and utility of the data he found online, especially the data he is
trying to use for his research project. The first thing to look for is the source of the data and
determine whether it reputable or not. The next thing is to evaluate how the data were collected
and the analysis has done to them. It is important for the researcher to be critical in his appraisal.
Look how the data were presented. Useful data are often up to date unless you want historical
ones. Evaluate whether there is already have enough data for a research. Old data or those data
that are out of date are considered unreliable because there may be changes in that field of study.

It is also a must to know whether the data he gathered will provide contributions to his
research project because it is possible for him to develop a project based solely on that data
available. It is possible that it may provide the researcher a data stream. It is a data from one
source.

Triangulation features two data streams. Triangulation is the use of many approaches in
finding answers for a research question or finding a response to a certain research issue.
Triangulation is also the way of looking at things in different perspective and it can also ensure
robustness in a research project or study.

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In any research project, it is necessary to have enough data to back up the findings or
claims. It is also important to ensure that all data are useful and valid. The validity of secondary
data relies on to the reputation of the site/organization hosting the place where you took your
data. You can evaluate the reputation of the site by determining the following:

• Date, location, manner of the publication

• Time and place of the data gathering
• Purpose of the data gathering
• Data gathering process and analysis
• Findings from the data gathered
• Conclusions drawn from the findings
• Significance and the use of the data to the researcher’s study

The researcher should also be critical about other issues of the data. There may be issues
in the methodology, ethical and political field of the data. An example of an issue is
ethnocentrism. It is the belief of some people about the superiority of their own group. They see
other groups to be lesser than them. Some other issues are often related to ethical and moral
rights.

6. USING SECONDARY DATA APPROPRIATELY

Before using secondary data, the following issues should be taken into consideration:

a. Sheer amount of data available. Since the data source is wide, especially in the internet, the
possibility of having too many data available is high and this will be hard for the researcher to
handle them. Thus, the researcher must choose which among the data available is only necessary
for research. But since he has to choose, there is the danger of getting the wrong data and
eliminating what might be more necessary and useful for the study.

It is also important that the data that will be used is manageable. It is fundamentally sound to
keep the data simple. Researchers can work on complex data if they are confident and skilled.
Wise researchers tend to use small sample sizes. These mean that they’ll even select subsets of
data.

b. Inappropriate data. In research, primary and secondary sources are equally important. In
many cases, researcher uses secondary sources when the primary data is not available. However,
the data provided by the secondary source is not the exactly data needed by the researcher. The
researcher should make sure that he understands the data he is selecting so that he can organize
the data set quickly. This should be done in order to know the strengths and limitations of the
data set that will be used during the research project.

c. Validity and reliability of the source of the data. The researcher should make sure that even if
the source is secondary, it should be valid and reliable. Validity in a research project means that
your data is credible and justifiable. He should examine how the data were gathered and if these
are the latest one in the subject being studied. There is also the potential issue on validity which

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could be established through the profile of the entity where you got your data from. The
researcher must be cleared on what do the data represent and their use in research.

d. Other issues. There could also be other potential issues here such as ethical, political,
geopolitical, racial, class and even gender issues. The research settings should be taken into
consideration because there are places where there is a particular issue that issue to those places,
but it is not an issue to other places. The researcher should be aware of this to avoid conflict. The
researcher should also observe proper referencing to avoid committing plagiarism.

CHAPTER REVIEW

This module focuses on the two kinds of data sources: the secondary and primary source.
Their meaning, usage, examples, advantages and disadvantages, and their sources were
discussed. A primary source is a first-hand account in which the researcher gathered by himself.
On the other hand, secondary source often came from primary source. An important criterion of
a primary source is that it must be original. Examples of this source are completed questionnaires
and scales, all kinds of research data and interview transcripts. Secondary source does not
provide original data. They only refer to the original information provided by the primary source.
Examples of this source are newspaper and magazine article, reference books and critique
papers.

Primary and secondary sources are equally important in a research study. When the
primary sources are either inaccessible to the researcher or the access to the primary sources
would take a lot of effort, time and money, secondary sources in this case could be most helpful
to carry out the research project. Through secondary sources, researchers get a wider access to as
many sources of secondary data as they can. However, secondary sources should be evaluated
before using them. The researcher should check for the utility, validity and reliability of the data.
Data should also be manageable and do not commit any ethical violation. To assess the
secondary data, the researcher should know its significance and use to his own research project
then he must investigate the credibility of the publisher and the author.

End of Chapter Questions

• What is primary data?

• What is secondary data?
• What are the key differences between primary data against secondary data?
• Enumerate and define at least three examples of primary data.
• Enumerate and define at least three examples of secondary data.
• Discuss extensively on how to evaluate the quality of a secondary data.
• Discuss extensively on how to assess the validity and credibility of a secondary data.
• Explain the relevance of secondary source whenever the primary data is not available.
• What are the guidelines and proper ethical rules before using secondary data?
• If you are to choose on what to use between primary data or secondary data, what will it be?
Explain.

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References

(2010). National Structural Code of the Philippines 2010 Volume 1: Buildings, Towers and
Other Vertical Structures. Association of Structural Engineers in the Philippines, Inc. (ASEP)
Quezon City.

Cania, L. (2014). The Impact of Strategic Human Resource Management on Organizational

Performance. Economia: Seria Management17(2), 373-383.

Castaldi, J. (2012). Constructing a Business Case for Training: Cause, Coincidence, or

Correlation?. T+D, 66(6), 32-34. Dunkin’ Donuts. (n.d.) Come Run with Dunkin’. Retrieved
from http://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/ddcareers.html

Crossman, A., (2019). “Pros and Cons of Secondary Data Analysis”. Retrieved from
https://www.thoughtco.com/secondary-data-analysis-3026536
Donnellan M. B. and Lucas R. E., (2013). “The Oxford Handbook of Quantitative Methods
in Psychology: Vol. 2: Statistical Analysis”. Retrieved from
https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199934898.001.0001/oxfor
dhb-9780199934898-e-028. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199934898.013.0028
Fernández-Aráoz, C., Groysberg, B., & Nohria, N. (2009). The Definitive Guide to
Recruiting in Good Times and Bad. Harvard Business Review, 87(5), 74-84.
Foley, B., (2018). “Why You Should Consider Secondary Data Analysis for Your Next
Study”. Retrieved from https://www.surveygizmo.com/resources/blog/secondary-data-
analysis/
Juneja, P., (2019). “Secondary Data”. Retrieved from
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/secondary_data.htm
Kataria, A., Rastogi, R., & Garg, P. (2013). Organizational Effectiveness as a Function of
Employee Engagement. South Asian Journal of Management, 20(4), 56-73.
Korschun, D., Bhattacharya, C. B., & Swain, S. D. (2014). Corporate Social Responsibility,
Customer Orientation, and the Job Performance of Frontline Employees. Journal of
Marketing, 78(3), 20-37.
MacDonald, N. (2008). Starbucks goes back to coffee camp. Maclean's, 121(10), 44.
Marler, J. H. (2012). Strategic Human Resource Management in Context: A Historical and
Global Perspective. Academy Of Management Perspectives, 26(2), 6-11.

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Northcentral University Library. (2019). “Primary and Secondary Resources”. Retrieved
from https://ncu.libguides.com/researchprocess/primaryandsecondary
Sacks, D. (2014). Brewing the perfect Cup. Fast Company, (188), 86-104. Starbucks. (2015).
Starbucks Company Profile. Retrieved from
http://globalassets.starbucks.com/assets/4286be0614af48b6bf2e17ffcede5ab7.pdf Starbucks.
(n.d.). Supplier Diversity Program. Retrieved from
http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/sourcing/
Silva, D. L., (2016). “Research Methods: Structuring Inquiries and Empirical Investigations”.
Valenzuela, Philippines: JO-ES Publishing House, Inc. Chapter 9: Using Secondary Data. pp.
136-145

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