What is secondary data analysis?

Secondary data analysis refers to the process of examining and interpreting data that has already been collected by someone else for a purpose different from the current research study. This approach allows researchers to utilize existing datasets, which can be beneficial in saving time and resources, as well as enabling the exploration of previously inaccessible conditions or populations. By examining this pre-existing data, researchers can identify patterns, test new hypotheses, or validate their findings against older research.

This method can also provide a broader context for understanding trends over time or variations across different groups without the need for original data collection, which can be costly and time-consuming. It serves as a significant tool in fields such as social sciences, where comprehensive datasets (like census data or historical records) are available.