What is secondary analysis in research?

Secondary analysis in research refers to the process of analyzing data that was originally collected for a different purpose than the current research question being addressed. This approach allows researchers to utilize existing data, which can save time and resources, and it may provide insights that are relevant to the new research context.

By using previously collected data, researchers can explore new hypotheses or questions without the need to gather new data, which can be costly and time-consuming. This method can involve a variety of data sources, such as government reports, previous research studies, and databases that may hold valuable information relevant to the present inquiry.

In contrast, the other options involve actions that do not accurately reflect secondary analysis. Collecting new data pertains to primary research methods; cleaning datasets focuses on preparing data, while conducting interviews relates directly to primary data collection rather than secondary analysis. Thus, Understanding secondary analysis is crucial for efficiently leveraging existing information to inform decision-making in business research.