Give some examples of primary data.
Answers
Answer:
One of the major elements and basis of statistical research is data collection, where the most basic data that can be collected in this process is primary data. In other words, we can say that data is the basis of all statistical operations and primary data is the simplest of all data.
Primary data is one of the 2 main types of data, with the second one being the secondary data. These 2 data types have important uses in research, but in this article, we will be considering the primary data type.
We will introduce you to what primary data is, examples, and the various techniques of collecting primary data.
What is Primary Data?
Primary data is a type of data that is collected by researchers directly from main sources through interviews, surveys, experiments, etc. Primary data are usually collected from the source—where the data originally originates from and are regarded as the best kind of data in research.
The sources of primary data are usually chosen and tailored specifically to meet the demands or requirements of a particular research. Also, before choosing a data collection source, things like the aim of the research and target population need to be identified.
For example, when doing a market survey, the goal of the survey and the sample population need to be identified first. This is what will determine what data collection source will be most suitable—an offline survey will be more suitable for a population living in remote areas without internet connection compared to online surveys.
Examples of Primary Data
Market Research
This is an important aspect of business strategy that involves the process of gathering information about the target market and customers. The data gathered during market research is primary as it is tailored specifically to meet the business needs.
An organization doing market research about a new product (say phone) they are about to release will need to collect data like purchasing power, feature preferences, daily phone usage, etc. from the target market. The data from past surveys are not used because the product differs.
Student Thesis
When conducting academic research or a thesis experiment, students collect data from the primary source. The kind of data collected during this process may vary according to the kind of research being performed—lab experiments, statistical data gathering, etc.
For example, a student carrying out a research project with the aim of finding out the effect of daily intake of fruit juice on an individual's weight will need to take a sample population of 2 or more people, feed them with fruit juice daily and record the changes in their weight. The data gathered throughout this process is primary.
Trauma Survivors
Although people react differently to trauma, there is usually a trait common to people who have gone through the same kind of trauma. The research aimed at finding out how victims of sexual abuse overcame the traumatic experience will include interviewing the survivors, sending them surveys, or any other primary source of data collection.
Experiences differ and every situation is unique. Therefore, using secondary data may not be the best option in this case.
Step-by-step explanation:
The data collected from primary sources are up-to-date, unlike that of the secondary sources. It collects data in real-time and does not take information from stale and outdated sources. For example, when the population of a community is something that continues to fluctuate as people die and children are born.