Which statement about primary data is false?

Which statement about primary data is false?

• A. It is obtained for a specific purpose
• B. It is original research
• C. It carries risks related to the accuracy of respondents
• D. It uses data collected by others

Answer: (D)

Primary data is collected directly for a specific research purpose, making it original research. This means you (or your organization) design the data collection to suit the exact question you want to answer, using methods like surveys, experiments, or direct observations. Because you control how the data is gathered, you can tailor the questions, sampling, and timing to fit your objective. There are practical downsides, such as time and cost, and there are risks to accuracy because respondents may misreport, misunderstand questions, or respond in a socially desirable way. Sampling errors and non-response bias can also affect the quality of the data. The statement that uses data collected by others describes secondary data, which was gathered for some other purpose by someone else. That is not primary data.

Primary data is collected directly for a specific research purpose, making it original research. This means you (or your organization) design the data collection to suit the exact question you want to answer, using methods like surveys, experiments, or direct observations. Because you control how the data is gathered, you can tailor the questions, sampling, and timing to fit your objective.

There are practical downsides, such as time and cost, and there are risks to accuracy because respondents may misreport, misunderstand questions, or respond in a socially desirable way. Sampling errors and non-response bias can also affect the quality of the data.

The statement that uses data collected by others describes secondary data, which was gathered for some other purpose by someone else. That is not primary data.