Before considering primary data collection, we encourage you to explore if an existing dataset can help answer your research question.  Using secondary data is a great idea because:

1.  It is ethical – you are respecting participants’ time, ideas, and the stories they have shared with us that have helped create these datasets;
2. It is cost effective – because you don’t have to collect the data yourself;
3. It is convenient and time saving – leaving you with more time for data analysis, writing up and sharing the findings. Before pestering people for information, find out if secondary data exists.

Check out some of the existing datasets below.