Research does not always involve the collection of data from the participants. There are large amounts of data collected through routine management information systems and other surveys. This existing data can be analyzed to generate new hypotheses and save the researcher the time and effort involved in soliciting responses from participants. The use of data from large data sets may also be of higher quality and a better representation of the population. This data usage can reduce the repetition of research and wasted resources through the exploration of existing research data. Though it has its advantages, there are ethical issues that may arise in secondary data analysis.

Post a discussion in which you address some of the common concerns about the secondary use of data? What criteria should be used to evaluate data? What steps can the researcher take to protect participants' identity or information that could be linked to identify participants?