Research that involves data collected by the researcher; field research.

Research that involves data collected by the researcher; field research.

• A. Primary research
• B. Secondary research
• C. Desk research
• D. Quantitative research

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the source of the data. When data is collected directly by the researcher for a specific study, that’s primary research. If this collection happens in the real world or in the field—like surveys, interviews, or direct observations—it’s called field research. In contrast, secondary research uses data someone else has already collected, such as published reports or existing datasets, and desk research is simply a term for analyzing those existing sources at a desk. Quantitative research describes the type of data (numerical) and can be either primary or secondary, so it doesn’t define who collects the data.

The key idea is the source of the data. When data is collected directly by the researcher for a specific study, that’s primary research. If this collection happens in the real world or in the field—like surveys, interviews, or direct observations—it’s called field research. In contrast, secondary research uses data someone else has already collected, such as published reports or existing datasets, and desk research is simply a term for analyzing those existing sources at a desk. Quantitative research describes the type of data (numerical) and can be either primary or secondary, so it doesn’t define who collects the data.