The article discusses the problem of using secondary data analysis (SDA) in educational research. The definitions of the SDA are analysed. The statistics of journals articles with secondary data analysis in the field of sociology, social work and education are discussed. The dynamics of articles with data in the Journal of Peace Research is conducted from 1988 tо 2018. The problem of PhD student training to use secondary data analysis in their dissertation are discussed. The sources of secondary data analysis in the education field to Ukrainian PhD students are proposed.