What is a common disadvantage of primary research?

The distinction of primary research lies in its unique ability to collect firsthand data specifically tailored to the researcher's needs. However, this method frequently comes with the notable disadvantage of being both time-consuming and costly.

Conducting primary research involves extensive effort in designing studies, collecting data, and analyzing results, as researchers often have to develop surveys, interviews, or experiments from scratch. This process can take a significant amount of time, depending on the scope and complexity of the research question. Additionally, resources such as personnel, tools, and technologies are required, which can lead to higher expenses when compared to secondary research, where data is already collected and readily available from existing sources.

In contrast, the other options highlight benefits or misconceptions about primary research. It does require considerable time and effort (making the choice of being less time-consuming and easier inaccurate), can often be more expensive than utilizing existing data, and although the specificity of primary research can be a strength, it doesn’t mean it’s less specific than secondary research, as it often addresses very particular research needs.