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Here is an illustration to show the distinction between primary and sec-
ondary research approaches:

Primary Research Question:
What health and social needs are most pressing among the elderly popu-
lation in remote villages in India?

To investigate this, a researcher conducts primary research by surveying
and interviewing a sample of elderly people living in rural areas across
India. This generates new data directly from the target population.

Secondary Research Question:

What existing data and estimates are available on the size and health
status of the elderly population living in rural India?

To investigate this, a researcher conducts secondary research by ana-
lyzing government census data on the rural elderly population, as well
as reviewing reports by health organizations on statistics and common
health issues affecting this demographic group in India. This provides
contextual background data.

Thus, the primary research through direct interviews and surveys with
the rural elderly population provides new and specific insights into their
needs and challenges. The secondary research from existing health data
and reports provides a broader picture of the demographics and health
status of this group at the national level. Using both these approaches
can facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the needs and
issues facing the rural elderly in India.

1.2.3 Significance of Research

Research plays a pivotal role in expanding knowledge,
solving problems, driving innovation, and guiding policies
and decisions across all fields and industries. There are
several compelling factors that underscore the significance
of research.

Advancing Knowledge: The discovery of the Higgs boson
particle at CERN's Large Hadron Collider involved colliding
subatomic particles at extremely high speeds to simulate
conditions just after the Big Bang. The detection of the Higgs
boson confirmed a missing piece of the Standard Model
of particle physics, furthering our understanding of how
particles acquire mass and contributing to the advancement
of human knowledge about the fundamental nature of the

SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing 35