Research is defined as the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. The research is done using different research methods classified as qualitative or quantitative in nature. These research methods differ from time to time based on the research questions. The use of existing data is referred to as secondary data. Secondary Research is a commonly used method that involves the use of information that other researchers gathered through primary research.
Creswell (2014) argues that by use of secondary data, the researcher is able to understand what is already known about the topic and thus develop focus. Some secondary sources contain information that could be updated from time to time such as government. Despite the advantage of the data availability, secondary sources are faced with limitations such as being out dated or lack of relevance to the topic under study.
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Existing documents and statistics can be categorized as internal and external. Internal source means the data is obtained from the firm the researcher works. The data can be retrieved from the internal database and from different departmental records (Cheng & Phillips, 2014). The internal data enables the researcher to know what they have compared to what they need to achieve. The gaps are then filled by external data which comes handy if a project is new and there is no internal data .External sources are also used if the internal data is incomplete, irrelevant, or has become obsolete.
Techniques for Data Collection from Existing Documents and Statistics
I dentification of the research topic and possible sources to find the data
The definition of the research area and the research questions addressed by the end of the research is important in data collection. The knowledge of the research question guides use of secondary research. Narrowing down the scope of research is paramount in the identification of information sources. Specific sources to be used in the research are important in ensuring the maintenance of the focus.
Gathering existing data
When the researcher is fully aware of the area of research and has decided on the sources to be used, he/she needs to embark on data collection from the existing data. The collected data should be broken down based on keywords and synonyms to get concrete outcomes.
Comparison of data from different sources, and normalizing it
Different authors or researchers have differing word command and thus, the data collected from different sources are presented in different formats. The research needs to establish and normalize all the data collected to achieve uniform information.
Analyzing the collected data
Having collected the information from different sources, a researcher might need to review the findings and determine whether they address all the research questions that were developed for the research domain. This will also be helpful in the elimination of the unnecessary information. The evaluation is paramount in determining if the information gathered is relevant to the research topic.
Having implemented the stated techniques, the steps can be repeated several times until the information of gathered answer the research questions (Creswell, 2014) . Secondary research is necessary in tracking the changes over time considered as longitudinal research that can be done forward or backward over time. This enables the ability to collect information over a long period of time that primary data collection such as the use of interviews and questionnaires cannot reveal. Documents often make possible the collection of data over a longer period of time as well as larger samples than might not be collected from questionnaires or interviews.
Governmental institutions are key places for retrieving information on statistical data collected over a period of time. This is because the different departments carry out research over time to update their information. This can be a guiding point for a researcher as they know where information can be collected to respond to the specific research questions (Grady, Cummings, & Hulley, 2008) .
Internet searching is also used by the researcher to retrieve bulky information. The research needs t o verify the information by carrying out the process of cross verification. This verification can be done by comparing the content of different articles to ensure they agree on the key points. This is because the internet searched resources are prone to compromised information and thus the inability to acquire factual information. Validity of information is important in ensuring the research is successful and the information acquired fills the gap identified in research. Researcher should have a clear focus on what needs to be achieved at the end of the project.
Conclusion
In conclusion, carrying out research on existing information requires a researcher to have a clear understanding of what they seek to achieve. Having a clear scope and domain of study helps the researchers to establish a clear focus. A researcher should use different research methods and not just depend on a single research method. The use of qualitative research methods should be complimented by quantitative research. This approach increases the validity of the findings as opposed to depending on one research method.
References
Cheng, H. G., & Phillips, M. R. (2014, december). Secondary analysis of existing data: opportunities and implementation. NCBI , 26(6): 371–375. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.11919%2Fj.issn.1002-0829.214171
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research designs- Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Aproach (Vol. Edition 4). Washing DC: Sage.
Grady, D. G., Cummings, S. R., & Hulley, S. B. (2008). Research Using Existing Data. Chapter 13 , 192- 207. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/343e/04f26f768c9530f58e1847aff6a4e072d0be.pdf
Heppner, P. P., Wampold, B. E., & Dennis M. Kivlighan, J. (2008). Research Design in Counseling . Belmont: Thomson Higher Education.
