Primary and Secondary Research
The Internet is a useful tool when conducting both primary and secondary research. Not only are there a number of free tools available when it comes to calculating things such as sample size and confidence levels (see Tools of the Trade for some examples), but it is also an ideal medium to reach large numbers of people at a relatively low cost. Notably, the origins of the web as a network for academics to share information make it a useful tool for researching existing research reports.