What is a major disadvantage of desk research?

The major disadvantage of desk research lies in the potential that the information may be out of date or inaccurate. Desk research relies on existing data that has been collected by others, which can include reports, academic papers, statistics, and various forms of secondary data. Since this data was gathered at an earlier time and may not have been updated, there is a risk that current conditions or trends may not be reflected in the findings.

In fast-changing fields or industries, relying on outdated information can lead to poor decision-making or strategies that do not align with the present reality. Additionally, when utilizing secondary data, the original context may not always be clear, leading to inaccurate interpretations based on potentially biased or incomplete information.

Time, cost, and data collection methods are factors associated with different types of research, but they are not inherent drawbacks of desk research itself. Hence, while desk research can be efficient and cost-effective, its reliance on pre-existing data makes the risk of using outdated or inaccurate information a significant concern.