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Primary Research Explained | Definition, Types & Examples

Published by Alvin Nicolas at October 16th, 2024 , Revised On October 24, 2024

While conducting research on any particular topic, subject or phenomenon, we gather information and data. Most of the data gathered already exists, which facilitates us in our work. However, the research that is carried out first-hand is known as primary research. Simply put, primary research is carried out by scholars and researchers to gain new information.

In this article, we shall develop an understanding of what a primary research study is, the importance of primary sources in research , the methodologies used in it and why it is useful in both qualitative and quantitative research .

What Is Primary Research Definition?

Primary research, also known as original research, is the act of gathering fresh data and information for the sake of producing new knowledge and insights. When doing this research, individuals do not rely on available databases, articles and research papers.

Many business, marketing and health companies conduct primary research to make informed decisions, as the data gathered first-hand is highly meaningful and accurate. This type of research is carried out in qualitative research, in the form of surveys, questionnaires and focus groups. Quantitative primary research does exist but is not common.

When To Use Primary Research?

There are two types of research . Unlike secondary research, which deals with existing research, primary research is used when a researcher needs original and up-to-date information on a specific topic. It is also a means to answer a new research question that has been sought by a research scholar.

Limited research or inadequate data on any subject also leads to the collection of new information, which is where primary research comes in handy. Not only can primary research strengthen secondary research but also helps identify new patterns and behaviours that were previously not apparent, addressing any gaps.

Methods Of Primary Research

Primary research can be carried out in many ways, but should always be done according to the principles of scientific methods. Here are some methods used in primary research by researchers, students and organisations:

Surveys/Questionnaires

This is a popular qualitative data collection approach that is used in primary research to gather information by both online and offline questionnaires. These questions tend to discover people’s opinions, behaviour and attitudes towards a particular topic and phenomenon. Questions can be both close-ended and open-ended, depending on the nature of the research.

It is important to understand how to conduct surveys and it is recommended that the surveys must not be lengthy as many individuals have limited attention spans, and can get bored. Moreover, each question must be comprehensive, error-free and not give way to observer bias.

This qualitative research method has been popular for ages, to gather key information and expand knowledge related to a subject. This method deals with one-on-one interviews with individuals to generate a better opinion as it gives detailed insights and expert opinions on the research question being examined. Moreover, interviews can be conducted face-to-face, on the telephone or online.

There are three main types of interviews conducted during research:

Structured interviews
Unstructured interviews
Semi-structured interviews

Focus Groups

Focus groups are another qualitative method for collecting data from a group of people, usually between 6 and 10. All the participants, who have expert opinions on the subject, are asked a series of questions. A moderator facilitates this mode of discussion and oversees the whole process. Moreover, business markets carry out these methods to learn more about the attitudes and opinions of customers and clients.

Observations

This primary research method involves observing people, a phenomenon or variables that are under study. There is no direct interaction between the researcher and the person being observed, and the researcher makes notes of the observations he makes. These observations can be carried out by a camera or a trained observer. It helps catch the genuine reactions of the subject.

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Here are three types of observations used in research:

Cohort studies
Cross-sectional studies
Case-control Studies

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Primary Research

Primary research is beneficial for a variety of purposes, however, it also has some disadvantages. Let’s understand the advantages of primary research and the disadvantages of primary research :

Difference Between Primary And Secondary Research

Primary and secondary research are two different methods of gathering information during research. Each has its definition, methodologies and characteristics. Here is how the two differ from each other:

Examples Of Primary Research

Here are some examples of primary research:

Example 1: Consumer Preference Survey

A skincare brand wants to introduce a new skincare product that heals acne scars. To understand consumer preference, they conduct an online survey targeting women and young girls, who are likely to face such skin issues.

The survey questions include demographic questions such as age and gender and consist of questions regarding skincare ingredient preferences, price range, and product packaging.

Example 2: Understanding Victim Psychology Through Interview

An interviewer wants to understand the experiences of victims for his podcast. He conducts a face-to-face interview with a victim of domestic violence. The interview consists of questions related to the victim’s domestic affairs, experiences and behaviours. Key focus areas include emotional responses to questions, coping mechanisms and certain psychological responses.

It is important to ensure that such interviews are conducted with the participant’s consent and with sensitivity and respect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between surveys and questionnaires.

Questionnaires are a set of questions given to participants in a survey, however, surveys are a larger part of the study of a specific group that can include a variety of research methodologies and questionnaires to understand the subject under study.

What is data analysis?

Data analysis involves understanding different patterns within the data. It deals with the inspection of data for information and trends, and creating a set of results and conclusions from it.

How can bias occur in primary research?

Primary research bias occurs during the research process and skews the accuracy of findings. It may occur due to subjective interpretation of results, poor questionnaires and if the researcher of the study consciously or unconsciously projects their opinions on the research. Moreover, it can occur when the participants fail to recall their experiences or previous events that are necessary for data collection.

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Peer Review and Primary Literature: An Introduction: Is it Primary Research? How Do I Know?

Scholarly Journal vs. Magazine
Peer Review: What is it?
Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles
Primary Journal Literature
Is it Primary Research? How Do I Know?

Components of a Primary Research Study

As indicated on a previous page, Peer-Reviewed Journals also include non -primary content. Simply limiting your search results in a database to "peer-reviewed" will not retrieve a list of only primary research studies.

Learn to recognize the parts of a primary research study. Terminology will vary slightly from discipline to discipline and from journal to journal. However, there are common components to most research studies.

When you run a search, find a promising article in your results list and then look at the record for that item (usually by clicking on the title). The full database record for an item usually includes an abstract or summary--sometimes prepared by the journal or database, but often written by the author(s) themselves. This will usually give a clear indication of whether the article is a primary study. For example, here is a full database record from a search for family violence and support in SocINDEX with Full Text :

Although the abstract often tells the story, you will need to read the article to know for sure. Besides scanning the Abstract or Summary, look for the following components: (I am only capturing small article segments for illustration.)

Look for the words METHOD or METHODOLOGY . The authors should explain how they conducted their research.

NOTE: Different Journals and Disciplines will use different terms to mean similar things. If instead of " Method " or " Methodology " you see a heading that says " Research Design " or " Data Collection ," you have a similar indicator that the scholar-authors have done original research.

Look for the section called RESULTS . This details what the author(s) found out after conducting their research.

Charts , Tables , Graphs , Maps and other displays help to summarize and present the findings of the research.

A Discussion indicates the significance of findings, acknowledges limitations of the research study, and suggests further research.

References , a Bibliography or List of Works Cited indicates a literature review and shows other studies and works that were consulted. USE THIS PART OF THE STUDY! If you find one or two good recent studies, you can identify some important earlier studies simply by going through the bibliographies of those articles.

A FINAL NOTE: If you are ever unclear about whether a particular article is appropriate to use in your paper, it is best to show that article to your professor and discuss it with them. The professor is the final judge since they will be assigning your grade.

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Last Updated: Oct 1, 2024 2:02 PM
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Finding Scholarly Articles: Home

What's a Scholarly Article?

Your professor has specified that you are to use scholarly (or primary research or peer-reviewed or refereed or academic) articles only in your paper. What does that mean?

Scholarly or primary research articles are peer-reviewed , which means that they have gone through the process of being read by reviewers or referees before being accepted for publication. When a scholar submits an article to a scholarly journal, the manuscript is sent to experts in that field to read and decide if the research is valid and the article should be published. Typically the reviewers indicate to the journal editors whether they think the article should be accepted, sent back for revisions, or rejected.

To decide whether an article is a primary research article, look for the following:

The author’s (or authors') credentials and academic affiliation(s) should be given;
There should be an abstract summarizing the research;
The methods and materials used should be given, often in a separate section;
There are citations within the text or footnotes referencing sources used;
Results of the research are given;
There should be discussion and conclusion ;
With a bibliography or list of references at the end.

Caution: even though a journal may be peer-reviewed, not all the items in it will be. For instance, there might be editorials, book reviews, news reports, etc. Check for the parts of the article to be sure.

You can limit your search results to primary research, peer-reviewed or refereed articles in many databases. To search for scholarly articles in HOLLIS , type your keywords in the box at the top, and select Catalog&Articles from the choices that appear next. On the search results screen, look for the Show Only section on the right and click on Peer-reviewed articles . (Make sure to login in with your HarvardKey to get full-text of the articles that Harvard has purchased.)

Many of the databases that Harvard offers have similar features to limit to peer-reviewed or scholarly articles. For example in Academic Search Premier , click on the box for Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals on the search screen.

Review articles are another great way to find scholarly primary research articles. Review articles are not considered "primary research", but they pull together primary research articles on a topic, summarize and analyze them. In Google Scholar , click on Review Articles at the left of the search results screen. Ask your professor whether review articles can be cited for an assignment.

A note about Google searching. A regular Google search turns up a broad variety of results, which can include scholarly articles but Google results also contain commercial and popular sources which may be misleading, outdated, etc. Use Google Scholar through the Harvard Library instead.

About Wikipedia . W ikipedia is not considered scholarly, and should not be cited, but it frequently includes references to scholarly articles. Before using those references for an assignment, double check by finding them in Hollis or a more specific subject database .

Still not sure about a source? Consult the course syllabus for guidance, contact your professor or teaching fellow, or use the Ask A Librarian service.

Last Updated: Oct 3, 2023 3:37 PM
URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/FindingScholarlyArticles

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Peer-review and primary research.

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Identifying a primary research article.

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Primary research or a primary study refers to a research article that is an author’s original research that is almost always published in a peer-reviewed journal. A primary study reports on the details, methods and results of a research study. These articles often have a standard structure of a format called IMRAD, referring to sections of an article: Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion. Primary research studies will start with a review of the previous literature, however, the rest of the article will focus on the authors’ original research. Literature reviews can be published in peer-reviewed journals, however, they are not primary research.

Primary studies are part of primary sources but should not be mistaken for primary documents. Primary documents are usually original sources such as a letter, a diary, a speech or an autobiography. They are a first person view of an event or a period. Typically, if you are a Humanities major, you will be asked to find primary documents for your paper however, if you are in Social Sciences or the Sciences you are most likely going to be asked to find primary research studies. If you are unsure, ask your professor or a librarian for help.

A primary research or study is an empirical research that is published in peer-reviewed journals. Some ways of recognizing whether an article is a primary research article when searching a database:

1. The abstract includes a research question or a hypothesis, methods and results.

2. Studies can have tables and charts representing data findings.

3. The article includes a section for "methods” or “methodology” and "results".

4. Discussion section indicates findings and discusses limitations of the research study, and suggests further research.

5. Check the reference section because it will refer you to the studies and works that were consulted. You can use this section to find other studies on that particular topic.

The following are not to be confused with primary research articles:

- Literature reviews

- Meta-analyses or systematic reviews (these studies make conclusions based on research on many other studies)

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Primary Research

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Note: This page offers a brief primer on primary research. For more information, see our dedicated set of pages on this topic .

Research isn't limited to finding published material on the Internet or at the library. Many topics you choose to write on may not already have been covered by an abundance of sources and hence may require a different kind of approach to conducting research. This approach involves collecting information directly from the world around you and can include interviews, observations, surveys, and experiments. These strategies are collectively called primary research.

For example, if you are writing about a problem specific to your school or local community, you may need to conduct primary research. You may be able to find secondary sources (such as those found at the library or online) on the more general topic you are pursuing, but may not find specifics on your school or town. To supplement this lack of sources, you can collect data on your own.

For example, Briel wants to research a proposed smoking ban in public establishments in Lafayette, Indiana. Briel begins by going to the library and then searching online. She finds information related to smoking bans in other cities around the United States, but only a few limited articles from the local newspaper on the ban proposed in Lafayette. To supplement this information, she decides to survey twenty local residents to learn what they think of the proposed smoking ban. She also decides to interview two local business owners to learn how they think the ban may affect their businesses. Finally, Briel attends and observes a town hall meeting where the potential ban is discussed.

Many different types of primary research exist. Some common types used in writing classes and beyond include:

Interviews: A conversation between two or more people in which one person (the interviewer) asks a series of questions to another person or persons (the interviewee). See also our page on interviewing .
Surveys and questionnaires: A process of gathering specific information from people in a systematic way with a set series of questions. Survey questions usually have pre-specified or short responses. See also our introduction to writing surveys .
Observations: Careful viewing and documenting of the world around you. See also our page on performing observations .

Identifying Primary and Secondary Research Articles

Primary and Secondary

Primary Research Articles

Primary research articles report on a single study. In the health sciences, primary research articles generally describe the following aspects of the study:

The study's hypothesis or research question
Some articles will include information on how participants were recruited or identified, as well as additional information about participants' sex, age, or race/ethnicity
A "methods" or "methodology" section that describes how the study was performed and what the researchers did
Results and conclusion section

Secondary Research Articles

Review articles are the most common type of secondary research article in the health sciences. A review article is a summary of previously published research on a topic. Authors who are writing a review article will search databases for previously completed research and summarize or synthesize those articles, as opposed to recruiting participants and performing a new research study.

Specific types of review articles include:

Systematic Reviews
Meta-Analysis
Narrative Reviews
Integrative Reviews
Literature Reviews

Review articles often report on the following:

The hypothesis, research question, or review topic
Databases searched-- authors should clearly describe where and how they searched for the research included in their reviews
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis should provide detailed information on the databases searched and the search strategy the authors used.Selection criteria-- the researchers should describe how they decided which articles to include
A critical appraisal or evaluation of the quality of the articles included (most frequently included in systematic reviews and meta-analysis)
Discussion, results, and conclusions

Determining Primary versus Secondary Using the Database Abstract

Information found in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and other databases can help you determine whether the article you're looking at is primary or secondary.

Primary research article abstract

Note that in the "Objectives" field, the authors describe their single, individual study.
In the materials and methods section, they describe the number of patients included in the study and how those patients were divided into groups.
These are all clues that help us determine this abstract is describing is a single, primary research article, as opposed to a literature review.
Primary Article Abstract

Secondary research/review article abstract

Note that the words "systematic review" and "meta-analysis" appear in the title of the article
The objectives field also includes the term "meta-analysis" (a common type of literature review in the health sciences)
The "Data Source" section includes a list of databases searched
The "Study Selection" section describes the selection criteria
These are all clues that help us determine that this abstract is describing a review article, as opposed to a single, primary research article.
Secondary Research Article

Primary vs. Secondary Worksheet

Full Text Challenge

Can you determine if the following articles are primary or secondary?

Last Updated: Feb 17, 2024 5:25 PM
URL: https://library.usfca.edu/primary-secondary

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primary research

Quick reference.

Techniques of original data collection or research direct from the target respondents. Primary research is different from secondary research in that secondary research uses data or research that has already been collected. Primary research includes qualitative and quantitative research and can include surveys, focus groups, questionnaires, and interviews. Since primary research typically takes anywhere from weeks to months to gather and is very expensive, secondary sources are typically exhausted first before any primary research is conducted.

From: primary research in A Dictionary of Marketing »

Subjects: Social sciences — Business and Management