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Background research is important to set the stage for your research project.
Primary sources are individuals with first hand knowlege. For information on Primary research, see the Interviewing Section of this page.
There are many diverse sources of secondary research:
Academic literature: peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, books.
Grey literature: policy documents, NGO reports, white papers, etc.
Market/industry reports: competitor analyses, trend studies, patents.
Media & cultural sources: news, blogs, social media discussions, community archives.
Internal organizational data: usage statistics, previous project reports, customer feedback logs.
Tip: Cast a wide net at first, then narrow to the most credible and relevant sources.