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Using an Existing Data Set to Answer New Research Questions: A Methodological Review
Abstract
The vast majority of the research methods literature assumes that the researcher designs the study subsequent to determining research questions. This assumption is not met for the many researchers involved in secondary data analysis. Researchers doing secondary data analysis need not only understand research concepts related to designing a new study, but additionally must be aware of challenges specific to conducting research using an existing data set. Techniques are discussed to determine if secondary data analysis is appropriate. Suggestions are offered on how to best identify, obtain, and evaluate a data set; refine research questions; manage data; calculate power; and report results. Examples from nursing research are provided. If an existing data set is suitable for answering a new research question, then a secondary analysis is preferable since it can be completed in less time, for less money, and with far lower risks to subjects. The researcher must carefully consider if the existing data set’s available power and data quality are adequate to answer the proposed research questions.
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“The dataset was designed in collaboration with the academic team at the inception of this service, thus ensuring that the measurement tools and data would be appropriate to research purposes [44, 45].”
From An enhanced individual placement and support (iPS) intervention based on the model of human occupation (MOHO); a prospective cohort study (2020) · cites this paper as [44]
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Secondary Data Analysis: A Method of which the Time Has Come
Johnston, M. P. (2017) · Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries · Cited by 741
Quantitative Research: A Successful Investigation in Natural and Social Sciences
Mohajan, H. K. (2020) · Journal of Economic Development Environment and People · doi:10.26458/jedep.v9i4.679 · Cited by 793
“The major advantages of existing data analysis are [Doolan & Froelicher, 2009; Smith et al. 2011]: Since someone else has already collected the data, the researcher does not have to devote financial resources to the collection of data, consequently saves time.”
BackgroundConducting High-Value Secondary Dataset Analysis: An Introductory Guide and Resources
Smith, A. K., Ayanian, J. Z., Covinsky, K. E., Landon, B. E., McCarthy, E. P., Wee, C. C., & Steinman, M. A. (2011) · Journal of General Internal Medicine · doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1621-5 · Cited by 175
“(1) Define your research topic and question (1) Start with a thorough literature review (2) Ensure that the research question has clinical or policy relevance and is based on sound a priori reasoning.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialEvaluating the Joint Theater Trauma Registry as a Data Source to Benchmark Casualty Care
O’Connell, K. M., Littleton‐Kearney, M. T., Bridges, E. J., & Bibb, S. C. G. (2012) · Military Medicine · doi:10.7205/milmed-d-11-00422 · Cited by 102
The influence of empowerment and incivility on the mental health of new graduate nurses
Wing, T., Regan, S., & Laschinger, H. K. S. (2013) · Journal of Nursing Management · doi:10.1111/jonm.12190 · Cited by 75
Metadata
- Authors
- Doolan, D. M., & Froelicher, E. S.
- Affiliations
- University of San Francisco (US)
- ORCID
- Froelicher, Erika S.
- Venue
- Research and Theory for Nursing Practice
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2009-08
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 203-215
- ISSN
- 0889-7182 (ISSN-L)
- 1541-6577
- 1945-7286
- OpenAlex
- W2081922487
- Cited by
- 123
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 10.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Research and theory for nursing practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Data Analysis and Archiving
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Research and Theory › Methodologies in Health Research and Practice
- Keywords
- secondary analysis, research question refinement, statistical power, data management, data quality, nursing research, research design
- MeSH terms
- Data Collection, Humans, Research Design, Review Literature as Topic, Reproducibility of Results, Nursing Research, Nursing Methodology Research, Case-Control Studies
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