Primary Research involves collecting original data. For example, conducting interviews or surveys with research participants. You will need permission from the JIBC Research Ethics Board to conduct primary research. If you intend to conduct primary research speak with your instructor as soon as possible.
Secondary Research uses existing data collected by others to analyze and interpret research. For example, using existing datasets or reviewing academic journal articles. Most Capstone projects will be based on secondary research.
Identify the population, the setting or location, and the timeframe you will be researching. You may have already identified these while developing your research question.
Each of these elements can be broader or narrower, depending on the information available and your research question.
| Broad | Narrow | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | Law Enforcement Agencies | RCMP | Female RCMP Officers |
| Setting or Location | Canada | British Columbia | Vancouver |
| Timeframe | No timeframe | Past 20 Years | Past 5 Years |
We often bring our own biases and perspectives to our work. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of researcher bias.
One of the most common examples of researcher bias is Confirmation Bias. This is when a researcher selectively chooses resources that support or confirm their pre-existing understanding of a subject and they ignore evidence that disagrees with their beliefs.
It’s important to answer your research question based on the evidence you gather and not on pre-conceived ideas about the topic. Gather research and evidence that supports all possible answers to your question and answer the research question based on the available research, even if it disagrees with your initial understanding of the topic.