Market Research Methods: Primary vs. Secondary Data
At the most basic level, market research data can be divided into primary and secondary data sources; however, under best practices, secondary research should always come first.
Primary research is research that you conduct on your own (or hire someone to do for you.) It entails asking questions and gathering information directly from a source, usually customers and prospective customers in your target market.
Secondary research is research that has already been compiled, collected, organized, and published by someone else. It can be obtained more quickly and cheaply than primary research.