Which term refers to information gathered from existing sources such as textbooks, websites, standards or product reviews to inform design decisions?

• A. Primary research
• B. Design brief
• C. Orthographic drawing
• D. Secondary research

Answer: (D)

Secondary research means using information that's already published or compiled by someone else to inform design decisions. It includes sources like textbooks, websites, standards, and product reviews. This approach lets you learn about existing solutions, norms, and potential constraints without collecting new data, which can save time and money. In contrast, primary research involves gathering new data directly from people or experiments. A design brief is the document that outlines what needs to be achieved in the project, and an orthographic drawing is a type of technical drawing. So the term that best fits information gathered from existing sources is secondary research.