Methods for Primary Research

Methods for Primary Research

A method for primary research is any method that is useful for getting information by direct means.

Method

A method is a step of steps for getting a useful result. The best method is one that provides the most rewards with the fewest drawbacks. Methods can be taught, learned, and communicated.

Research

Research is the process of getting information. There are two main ways of doing research: secondary research and primary research.

Secondary Research

This is the process of getting existing information from other people by listening, reaching, asking questions, and so on.

Primary Research

This is the process of getting information by direct methods (observations, experiments, calculations, and so on) as opposed to getting information from other people

Rationale

  1. Good (high quality) information about any topic is super useful.

  2. Getting good information is best done using a blend of primary and secondary research. Thus, you want to be skilled with both.

  3. Skill with primary research involves two things.

    1. Selecting the best method or methods for the context.
    2. Applying this method or these methods well.

  4. Thus, the information in this note (selecting the best method for primary research) is useful for anyone who want to be good at getting information.

Selecting the Best Method for Primary Research (How To)

Framework

  1. List all the methods you might use.
  2. Select the one method or the several best methods.

Tips

  1. Develop your own list of methods (see next section).

  2. For most research tasks, select the best combination of primary and secondary research methods.

  3. Recognize that skill with primary research is acquired over a long time period of deliberate practice.

Examples of Methods

  1. Trying something yourself: This method involves doing something yourself. Examples: Test driving a car. Engaging in a sport for the first time. Visiting a place for the first time.

  2. Running an experiment. This method involves trying something and seeing what happens. Examples:

    1. Drive Routes A and B and compare enjoyment and travel time.
    2. Try out a new method at a meeting and see if results improve, get worse, or stay the same.
    3. Try out an adhesive and see if it holds.

  3. Doing calculations. For example, you can calculate how fuel will be needed for a journey of 2000 km (1240 miles).

  4. Surveys & Questionnaires – Structured forms with open-ended or multiple-choice questions to gather data from many people.

  5. Interviews – One-on-one conversations (in-person, phone, or online) to gather detailed responses.

  6. Observation – Watching people, events, or environments to gather insights (e.g., customer behavior in a store).

  7. Focus Groups – Small group discussions led by a moderator to explore opinions, preferences, and experiences.

  8. Structured Experiments – Controlled testing of variables to see cause-and-effect relationships (e.g., A/B testing in marketing).

  9. Medical Research: Trying out vaccine and placebo on test populations to gauge the effectiveness and the side effects.

  10. Field Studies – Going to a real-world location to collect firsthand data (e.g., testing a product in its intended environment).

  11. User Testing – Observing people using a product, service, or website to see what works and what doesn’t.

  12. Social Media Polls & Engagement – Quick, informal data collection through polls or comment analysis on platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn.

  13. Diary Studies – Asking participants to keep records of their experiences over time (useful for tracking habits or reactions).

  14. Ethnographic Research – Immersing yourself in a culture, group, or setting to deeply understand behaviors and practices.