There are several types of data analysis you can perform on secondary data.
Descriptive Analysis: This type of analysis summarizes and describes the main features of a data set. It's often the first step in the analysis process. Think of it as describing the 'what' of the data. Examples include calculating the mean, median, and mode, or creating frequency tables to show how often different values appear.
Exploratory Analysis: This goes a step further to find hidden patterns and relationships. It’s used to explore the data without a specific hypothesis in mind, helping you formulate questions or hypotheses for future research. This might involve creating visualizations like scatter plots to see if two variables are related.
Inferential Analysis: This involves using a sample of data to make inferences or predictions about a larger population. This is where you test a hypothesis. For example, using a survey of a few thousand people to draw conclusions about the entire country.