Abstract

The following research paper consists of the introduction of data and its types. The importance,
advantages and disadvantages of both the secondary data and the primary data have been
explained in this paper. The differences between the two have also been drawn showing how
both types are contrasting from each other.

Knowing how the data 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 its own weakness 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 don’t have the privilege of this focus but is only susceptible to
bias introduce in the choice of what data to reuse. Stated another way, those who gather primary
data get to write the question. Those who gather secondary data get to pick the questions.
Introduction

Data is the value of the variable. The value can be both qualitative and quantitative. Data is the
smallest unit of any information. By collecting group of data, the information is collected. Data
itself does not have any significant meaning and is simply a raw material. The data needs to be
analyzed and interpreted properly to derive any inference out of it. Data can be anything like
numbers, age, values, type, etc. Without the data no analysis can be done. Therefore the
collection of data is the foremost and most important step to carry out any research or conduct
any study.

There are two types of data: primary data and secondary data.

Primary and Secondary Data

Primary data sources are the most accurate data as it is collected by the people who have direct
focus on the purpose of research. Secondary data is collected mainly to further research and for
the study purpose. There is chance of biasness while collecting the primary data by the
researchers. But there is less scope of such biasness in the collection of secondary data.

Importance of data and data collection in research

Data is the most important unit for any kind of research. Without data, the research is like
swimming in middle of the ocean or thinking about reaching the sky by flapping human hands.
The data is the foundation and gives basic structure to the research. The research requires data
that has to be analyzed and studied to reach at any conclusion.

Data collection should be done very carefully for conducting the research in the right path. There
are various types of data available but the suitable data needs to be collected according to the
purpose and objectives of the research for the smooth conduct of the same. Data is important in
every type of research.

There are two important techniques for data collection. They are primary data collection and
secondary data collection. The primary data collection method includes surveys, experiments,
interview, questionnaire, etc and the secondary data collection method includes books,
newspapers, electronic sources, private records.
Primary data

The data that has not been published before and is collected first handedly by the researcher is
called primary data. The researcher collects the data in primary form to make the research more
in depth and accurate. Such primary data are collected by the researchers who are directly
focused on the objective of his research. The authenticity of the primary data is more than the
secondary data. The primary data cannot be easily changed or altered by other persons so it is
more reliable and static. It the personal experience of the researcher while collecting the primary
data so the information is more solid and correct. The researchers who collect the primary data
are mostly the persons who are assigned by the organization, government, survey departments,
etc.

Importance of primary data

The primary data is most important material required for the research. The research cannot only
be based on secondary data. Such research shall not be considered to be authentic. The primary
data is the original data that has been collected and has less chance of manipulation. But as the
secondary data are themselves collected from the primary data, most of their interpretation is
modified through time by various interpreters. Hence we cannot completely rely upon the
secondary for research as they are not original.

Some of the research like surveys cannot be done on the basis of secondary data. Such researches
purely require the use of the primary data. The researchers are the witness to their own data
collection hence it is important source. The secondary data are limited and may be expired but
the primary data is always reliable and accurate.

 Validity:

The primary data are valid source for the research. They are authentic and scientific. It makes
the research more trusting and compatible. The people can rely on such source as they are the
first hand collection from the targeted subject itself. The primary data collected from some
community is accurate and reliable for that whole community as they are the direct
participants in the process of collecting the primary data.
  Authenticity:

The primary data are more authentic as they are collected directly from the targeted source
itself. The source is authentic when there is no modification in the data. The primary data to
be authentic must be collected correctly without any fabrication. But if the researcher collects
the data to satisfy his prejudice then such primary data may not be authentic. The authenticity
of data helps the research to solve the problem of that particular area which was raised during
the starting of the research

 Reliability:

The primary data are more reliable in nature than the secondary data. The reliability means
how much can one depend upon the information of such source. In case of the primary data,
the information collected comes directly from the targeted group as well as the one who has
collected the information is the witness himself. Such data is more reliable as it gives the
accurate visualization of the issue of the particular field in which a person is researching. As
it is the accurate findings, such data helps in finding the tentative solution of any problem in
that field or area and also helps in making of laws and implementing them on certain groups
or communities.

Sources of Primary Data

There sources of obtaining primary data are very less and circumscribed. The researchers have to
put in lot of time, cost and effort to collect the primary data. As the primary data is considered to
most valid, authentic and reliable source, it is collected through some of the sources despite the
difficulties. Some of the sources of primary data are:

 Experiments: Experiments means carrying out tests and getting the results. The
experiment involves the setting up of various sets that are occurring artificially or
naturally. It is a logical and scientific way of collecting the data. In experiments various
variables are tested and at last the result is withdrawn though which the inferences are
made. Experiments are mostly conducted in scientific research. It only relies on what
actually takes place.
 Survey: Survey is the method of collecting data by going through the area, sites, etc and
is used mostly in identifying the solutions for the problems lying in society, business,
market, etc. the survey is the collection of the data and facts as it is available. It answers
to question what exists.
 Questionnaire: Questionnaire is the method of asking the questions and collecting the
information based on the answers given by the other party. The questionnaire involves
different types of questions which are given to the targeted area of people with the view
of obtaining their answers. These can be in various modes through questions on paper,
via mail, via online questions, phone, personally, etc. the main motive is to get many
answers as possible to withdraw a reference from all those answers.
 Interview: Interview refers to asking questions personally face to face. It cannot be done
in any other mode. It can be done by meeting with the person personally from whom we
sought the answers. While interviewing the interviewer not only focuses on the answers
but also notices the body language and expression of that person. It is easy for the
researcher to know whether the answer he is receiving is correctly given by the
interviewed person or not. It is more reliable source than the questionnaire as answers in
questionnaire can be influenced by several factors but cannot be known by the researcher.
 Observations: Observations simply means to observe the targeted community or group.
The person who is being observed may know the fact that he is under observation or may
not be aware of it. It helps the researcher to know the lifestyle or way of functioning of
any targeted subject to have a clear picture of the problems they are going through so that
they can come up with a solution.