CORE PROCESS STEP 4 – SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION 1
SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION
The South Dakota Good & Healthy Community Health Needs Assessment
and Improvement Planning Toolkit data collection methods are largely
focused on accessing local data from secondary data sources. As
compared to primary data that is collected firsthand, secondary data
is qualitative and/or quantitative data that already exists and was
previously collected by another person, organization, institution, etc.,
for a different purpose, such as reporting or research. Secondary data
review is a cost-effective data collection method, compared to primary
data collection, and often can provide comprehensive information
to support data collection needs.
Secondary data is an important source of information and can provide valuable knowledge and insight into a broad range
of issues. Collecting information about different community aspects will help explain factors that influence the community’s health.
Types of secondary data can often be categorized by specific area or population, such as Demographics, Health Behaviors,
Social Determinants of Health, or Environmental Factors.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
There are some benefits of secondary data collection versus primary data collection. Secondary data collection accesses
existing information, which is less time-consuming than primary data collection, and is likely reliable and valid data that was
collected by an experienced statistician or researcher. Persons with limited technical data training are able to collect secondary
data with ease. A secondary data review may also garner a comprehensive database and provide the necessary information
to understand the health of a community. Resource-limited communities or workgroups can utilize secondary data collection as
their method of accessing community health data, which is cost-effective.
Secondary data does have some limitations in its quality. Data sources can occasionally conflict with one another, however
reviewing the data source and citation, along with seeking consultation from a local expert and/or the South Dakota Community
Health Experts, can help resolve any issues.
WHEN SHOULD SECONDARY DATA BE COLLECTED AND USED?
• If data is available and accessible from quality sources, utilizing secondary data will strengthen your information.
• If data is relevant to the information being sought.
• Accessing secondary data expedites the data collection process and provides information to communities and/or
workgroups who lack the resources necessary to gather primary data.
SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION PROCESS
Steps to collecting secondary data include:
1. Determine what the purpose of the data collection is and what type of information is necessary to collect to meet
that purpose.
2. Determine who would likely have collected the information you are seeking.
3. Identify what data sources are available to gather the necessary information. There are multiple data sources available,
depending on the purpose of the data collection.
Secondary versus Primary Data
“Secondary data complements, but does not
replace primary data collection and should be
the starting place for any data collection.”
(McCaston, 1998)1
