Question

•What are examples of the pros and cons of primary and secondary data in the marketing research process

Answer 1

Solution:

With both types of market research, there are positives and negatives to them making secondary research more useful in some areas than primary research and vice versa.

Pros of Secondary Research

• Often obtained without cost
• Good overview of a market
• Usually based on actual sale figures, or research on large samples

Cons of Secondary Research

• Data may not be updated regularly
• Not tailored to your own needs
• Expensive to buy reports on many different marketplaces

Pros of Primary Research

• Can aim questions directly at your research objective
• Latest information from the marketplace
• Can assess the psychology of the customer

Cons of Primary Research

• Expensive: £10,000+ per survey
• Risk of questionnaire and interviewer bias.
• Research findings may only be usable if comparable back data exists.