Primary data basic idea – UGC NET Question

Primary data are original information gathered first-hand by the researcher through methods such as surveys, experiments, observations or interviews. They are collected specifically to address the objectives of the current study, rather than being reused from previous investigations. Because they originate at the source in direct contact with respondents or phenomena, they are called primary. The stem clearly describes such directly collected data, so primary is the correct term.

Option A:
Secondary data are information that already exist, having been collected earlier by other researchers, institutions or agencies for different purposes. Examples include census reports, published statistics and previous research datasets. Since the stem emphasises data collected directly by the researcher for a specific current study, secondary data do not fit.

Option B:
Derived data might refer to values computed from existing data, such as indices or ratios, rather than raw observations collected in the field. Although derived data can be based on primary data, the stem focuses on original collection rather than on computations, so derived is not accurate here.

Option C:
Primary data are tailored to the research questions and allow control over how variables are defined and measured. They can be more time-consuming and costly to collect but often provide better alignment with the study’s objectives. For these reasons, the type of data described in the stem is correctly labelled primary.

Option D:
Standardised data could suggest information measured using uniform procedures or scales, regardless of whether they are primary or secondary. It is not a standard term for classifying data sources according to whether they are directly collected. Thus, standardised data is not the correct completion.