When students hear the word “research,” they immediately start thinking of gathering fresh data through surveys, interviews, or experiments, which is called primary research and is known for being original, detailed, and highly specific.
However, what many of these students are aware of are the hidden drawbacks of this method, especially for them. Draining our limited time and straining our financial resources, and even leading to inaccurate conclusions, are the side effects of this type of research, in case you are so dependent on this method.
Understanding these disadvantages is crucial because, as students, we are already dealing with deadlines, part-time jobs, and personal commitments, so that we can learn better ways to manage them.
1. Time
Time is a significant drawback of primary research. Challenges include:
- Time spent collecting data.
- Need for a well-defined and focused study strategy.
- Construction of survey instruments (questionnaires, interviews).
- Setting up experimental conditions.
All these things cost time and money, which can be scarce in a study or research project.
Solution:
To address time management issues, establish a clear research timeline and utilise digital tools to expedite data collection.
2. Cost
Cost is another significant disadvantage.
- Requires significant resources for accurate data collection.
- Editing and organising data for analysis can be expensive.
- Using software for analysis adds an extra cost.
Many researchers find that the sample size and the need to create unique survey instruments or conduct interviews exceed their resources or budget. For this reason, many researchers would omit primary research when writing a dissertation or conducting an experiment.
If you, as a student, find that you can’t get the data that you need without investing money, you may opt for secondary research or the collection of simple primary data.
Solution:
Utilise the free survey tools and combine primary data with secondary sources to minimise costs.
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3. Lack Of Research Experience
The idea of conducting primary research may deter many students, which could be one of its disadvantages. The process of interviewing respondents and ensuring they respond appropriately requires highly skilled expertise, particularly in ensuring that the questions asked are unbiased, whether they are multiple-choice or open-ended.
Suppose the survey instruments used are not objective or bias the respondent towards a particular response. In that case, this can lead to biased data and an unfeasible study due to the researcher’s lack of expertise and experience.
Additionally, many new researchers lack the confidence to conduct interviews with significant numbers of respondents, resulting in ineffective interviews and surveys.
Solution:
Seek guidance from experts or use pre-tested survey templates to reduce the chances of bias.
4. Feasibility
The selection of research objectives or study has to consider all possible aspects, particularly the main scope of the research project.
- It would be impractical to interview every consumer who walks into a shop.
- Accessing target groups can be difficult.
In such situations, undertaking primary research is not practical. In tandem with this, it may be difficult to secure sufficient volunteers due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, one of the significant drawbacks of primary research is its feasibility.
Solution:
Break down research objectives into smaller, shorter and manageable groups instead of focusing on larger populations.
5. Accessibility
It can be challenging to collect primary data, even when all other obstacles are overcome, because recruiting a large population or sample is difficult. For instance, you may have access to a large group of students, but you want to analyse the effects of a particular trend on people over 50 years of age.
There is also the question of how to reach the required number of participants. Alternatively, the internet and web-based surveys can be helpful in this regard. Still, it can be challenging to ensure that the respondent sample meets all the eligibility requirements, thereby hampering the collection of accurate and valid data.
Solution:
Utilise online social media platforms to engage with diverse and hard-to-reach participants.
6. Comparison
A drawback of primary research is the lack of comparability.
- The data collected for the study is unique and therefore cannot be compared with other publications.
- This means that there is no alternative data set or previous work for the researcher to refer to if they make a mistake in the analysis or final interpretation.
- Mistakes in analysis cannot be checked against previous studies.
- This limits reliability and broader acceptance of results.
Solution:
Also consider conducting primary and secondary research to strengthen validity and provide context.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s difficult as many students often lack the expertise, time management skills, and budget needed to conduct unbiased surveys and interviews.
Yes, if questions are poorly designed, it can lead to biased interviews and can result in unusable data.
If it’s difficult to reach the required participants, it is challenging to gather accurate and valid data. Students are advised to use online surveys, smaller sample sizes, or combine secondary data with limited primary data to reduce costs and reach a broader audience.
