Secondary research, also called desk research, involves gathering and synthesising information that already exists: academic papers, industry reports, competitor analyses, market data, and previous internal research. It is almost always the right starting point for any new project because it prevents teams from rediscovering what is already known and helps frame the primary research that follows. A strong secondary research phase can save weeks of fieldwork by sharpening the team's focus on genuine unknowns.
Secondary Research
Building on existing knowledge before going into the field
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Designers Academy
18 February 2026 · 4 min read
ResearchMethods
In brief
Secondary research, also known as desk research, involves collecting and synthesising existing information like academic papers and industry reports to build foundational knowledge for a project and avoid rediscovering known facts.
