Statistics/Different Types of Data/PS
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[edit] Primary and Secondary Data
Data can be classified as either primary or secondary.
[edit] Primary Data
Primary data means original data that has been collected specially for the purpose in mind. It means when an authorized organization, investigator or an enumerator collects the data for the first time from the original source. Data collected this way is called primary data.
Research where one gathers this kind of data is referred to as field research.
For example: your own questionnaire.
[edit] Secondary Data
Secondary data is data that has been collected for another purpose. When we use Statistical Method with Primary Data from another purpose for our purpose we refer to it as Secondary Data. It means that one purpose's Primary Data is another purpose's Secondary Data. Secondary data is data that is being reused. Usually in a different context.
Research where one gathers this kind of data is referred to as desk research.
For example: data from a book.
[edit] Why Classify Data This Way?
Knowing how the data was collected allows critics of a study to search for bias in how it was conducted. A good study will welcome such scrutiny. Each type has it's own weaknesses and strengths. Primary Data is gathered by people who can focus directly on the purpose in mind. This helps ensure that questions are meaningful to the purpose but can introduce bias in those same questions. Secondary data doesn't have the privilege of this focus but is only susceptible to bias introduced in the choice of what data to reuse. Stated another way, those who gather Primary Data get to write the questions. Those who gather secondary data get to pick the questions.
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