DESK RESEARCH

Desk research involves the investigation of data that has already been collected (often referred to as ‘secondary data’). At EPSI Data Collection Services we appreciate the value of desk research, and we encourage our clients to look to the public domain, or indeed to their own previous studies, for data that will add context and insight to any research we undertake on their behalf. This is another example of how we help clients to get more for their money.
We have extensive experience of carrying out desk research to assess market opportunities and competitor activities. Thorough searches of the Internet, newspapers, journals, industry databases, government websites and a range of other sources can provide a cost effective way to collect data. Some of the benefits of desk research include:
• Secondary data is easily accessible and will save you time and cost.
• It will help the researcher to understand the research problem, generate hypotheses and determine the most effective methodology and sample for future research.
• The time and budget that is saved will leave more resource to explore new areas for consideration, and for greater in-depth analysis.
• It gives a basis for evaluation and allows for comparison over time.