Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Practice Exam 2026 - Free PHR Practice Questions and Study Guide

The main characteristic of primary research is that it involves data that is gathered firsthand for a specific evaluation. This means that researchers collect the data themselves, tailoring their methods and questions to address specific issues, objectives, or hypotheses relevant to their inquiry. This first-hand collection process can take various forms, such as surveys, interviews, observations, and experiments.

This characteristic distinguishes primary research from secondary research, where the information has been collected and reported by someone else. In the context of primary research, the data is specifically created or acquired to fulfill particular research goals, thereby providing insights that are directly relevant and timely for the investigation. As a result, primary research offers a high level of specificity and detail about the research question at hand.