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Unit 2: Types of Data Collection: Primary and Secondary, Methods of Collecting Primary Data

Merits Notes

Primary data are of the following merits:
1. They are more accurate.
2. They are reliable.
3. They are suitable for sampling inquiry.
4. They are original in character.
5. They are the latest or current information.
Demerits
Primary data are of the following demerits:
1. They are inconvenient.
2. They are expensive which involves a great amount of planning and supervision.
3. They consume more time and energy.
4. They may prove inaccurate if the enumerators are not trained well.
5. Large number of investigators are needed.
6. There may be personal bias and prejudices.
7. If the respondents are non-responsive, the quality of the collected information suffers a lot.
Secondary Data

Secondary data are those data which have already been collected by somebody for others for some
other purposes. They are in the finished form of the investigation.
For example, if the statistical data given in different population census years are again processed to
obtain trends of population growth, sex ratio, mortality rate, etc. it is termed secondary data.
Secondary data are collected when adequate and authentic statistical information are already available
and when there is waste of time and money to collect fresh statistical information.
Merits
Secondary data are of the following merits:
1. They require only a minimum cost for the collection.
2. They can be used for a quick survey or investigation.
3. They save time, money and energy.
4. The errors occurred can be easily eliminated by the primary investigator.
Demerits
Secondary data are of the following demerits:
1. They may be outdated information.
2. They may have no accuracy of data.
3. They are only secondary in character.
4. In some cases, all particulars may not be available.

Secondary data are secondary in character in the sense that those statistical
information which have already been processed to a certain extent for a certain
purpose. They are expressed in totals, averages or percentages.

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