Primary vs Secondary Data Identification

A researcher surveyed school students to find their favourite film star and published a report. Later, another researcher used this published report for a similar study. For the second researcher, this data is:

Correct Answer Explanation

For the second researcher who is using the published report, the data is Secondary Data — because it was collected and processed by the first researcher.

Key Rule:

• Data is primary to the source that collects and processes it for the first time.
• Data is secondary for all sources that later use such data.
• The same dataset can be primary for one person and secondary for another.
• Secondary data saves time and cost but may not be perfectly suited to the new researcher's needs.
• Sources of secondary data: government reports, newspapers, books, websites, research journals.