Secondary Research in App Development: Benefits & Best Practices

Secondary Research involves gathering insights from existing data sources like market reports, competitor apps, white papers, or academic studies — instead of collecting new data directly from users.

Why It Matters 

• Helps validate your app idea quickly without spending on new research
• Provides benchmarks, trends, and industry insights to shape strategy
• Speeds up decision-making by using proven, accessible data
• Reduces risk by learning from what’s already worked (or failed) in your market

Use This Term When...

• You’re starting a new product concept or exploring a new market
• You need competitor benchmarks, feature trends, or industry data
• You’re preparing for investor or pitch decks with supporting statistics
• You’re designing features that rely on established user behaviour
• You’re backing up hypotheses during research prep

Real-World Example 

In one of our projects, we conducted secondary research to analyse competitor apps, industry trends, and existing user behaviour data. These insights informed our product strategy and helped prioritise features based on proven market demand.

Founder Insight 

Many founders rely too heavily on secondary research and skip talking to real users. It’s great for context — but combine it with primary research to avoid blind spots..

Key Metrics / Concepts 

• Source Credibility – The trustworthiness and relevance of your research sources
• Data Recency – How current the information is (outdated insights can mislead decisions)
• Relevance to Audience – How closely the research applies to your specific user base
• Coverage Gaps – Areas where secondary data may not exist and need primary input

Tools & Technologies 

• Google Scholar / Statista – For academic or statistical market insights
• CB Insights / Crunchbase – To explore startup activity, trends, and funding data
• App Store / Play Store Reviews – Real-world feedback on competitor apps
• SimilarWeb / App Annie – For competitor traffic and usage analytics

What’s Next / Future Trends

AI is reshaping secondary research with summarisation tools and auto-insight generation. Expect faster scanning of large datasets, better pattern recognition, and curated insights for niche audiences in minutes.

Related Terms

Primary Research – First-hand research like interviews or surveys
Competitor Analysis – Often powered by secondary data
Market Research – A broader term that includes both primary and secondary research
SME Interview – Gathers direct expert input to complement desk research
Hypothesis Statement – Often refined using secondary findings

Helpful Videos / Articles / Pages

Blog: Why Market Research Is Important: A Breakdown

Blog: How To Do Customer Research to Build a Successful Website

Blog: User Research, User Segmentation, and User Feedback for Mobile App Based Businesses

Call to Action

Want help finding and using the right research to shape your app idea? Book a discovery call and we’ll help you validate with speed and confidence.