Strategy
Secondary Research
Plain English
Using existing serviceUser ResearchUnderstand user behaviour, validate ideas, and make clearer product decisions with evidence you can act on.Open service instead of collecting new glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term.
Definition
Secondary serviceUser ResearchUnderstand user behaviour, validate ideas, and make clearer product decisions with evidence you can act on.Open service involves analysing existing glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term or studies rather than collecting new data.
In practice
Used to understand markets, trends, or existing glossaryInsightAn insight is a meaningful understanding that explains why something is happening and what it means.Open glossary term.
In context
It is the right first step and the wrong last one. A day spent on existing studies and internal glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term sharpens the questions worth asking real users.
The reality
It may not fully reflect your specific users or glossaryContextContext is the set of surrounding conditions that shape how someone behaves and decides, including their goal, their environment, their time pressure, and what happened immediately before. The same action can mean different things in different contexts.Open glossary term.
Compared with
Secondary Research vs Primary Research
Secondary serviceUser ResearchUnderstand user behaviour, validate ideas, and make clearer product decisions with evidence you can act on.Open service analyses what already exists: reports, glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term, published studies. glossaryPrimary ResearchPrimary research is data collected directly from users through methods like interviews, surveys, or testing.Open glossary term generates new evidence about your users and product. Secondary is fast and general; primary is slow and specific to your problem.
FAQ
Common questions
A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this term.
What is secondary research?
It is analysing existing glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term or studies.
When should you use it?
When exploring trends or gathering background glossaryContextContext is the set of surrounding conditions that shape how someone behaves and decides, including their goal, their environment, their time pressure, and what happened immediately before. The same action can mean different things in different contexts.Open glossary term.
What is a limitation?
It may not match your specific users.
How does it differ from primary research?
It uses existing glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term instead of collecting new data.
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