2 Pros and Cons of Research

• Specific. The NPO gets to define the goals of the research and focus the research on its own objectives.
• Proprietary. The NPO can keep the results private.
• Controlled. Not only does primary research enable the NPO to focus on specific subjects, but it also enables the researcher to have higher control over how the information is collected.
• Information. Primary research can be used to yield more data and survey a larger sample. Providing users with more detailed information.
• Quantitative Data. Primary researched tends to provide numbered data that is measurable using metrics. This data can be organized into information and used to provide insights and knowledge from a subject.

• Costly. Primary data may be very expensive in preparing and carrying out the research. The cost can be incurred in producing the paper for questionnaires, paying staff members, or renting equipment for an experiment.
• Time-consuming. Primary data collection requires the development and execution of a research plan. It takes longer to undertake primary research than to acquire secondary data.
• Low Engagement. Primary research can be hard to gain volunteers to participate in primary data collection if there are no rewards. This information may be hard to use if there are a low number of responses.
• Inaccurate Data. Information obtained from Primary Research may not always be accurate. This information may also describe what people think and believe but not necessarily how they behave in real life.

Disadvantages

• Inexpensive. The costs are shared or already paid.
• Rapidly accessible. The data has already been collected and analyzed.
• Large sample size. The pooled resources of the government agency or trade organization allow it to survey thousands or millions of people.
• Reliable. The external research organization may have years of experience in gathering and analyzing a particular type of data
• Historical Documents. This data has already been researched and vetted by others and is used to build a basis for the subject of a not-for-profit organization.

• Dated. The secondary research may have been done months or years before.
• Widely disseminated. A competitor may have access to the same information when they devise their strategies.
• Generic or off-target. The goals of the external research organization may be different from those of the company.
• Difficult to Obtain. Relevant data may become hard to find or be outdated. Some research may even be costly to purchase or be currently non-existent.
• Different Purpose. Data in Research may be utilized for different grounds, making the information irrelevant to the organization’s topic.