Data sources

 Sources of Data: There are two sources of data:

(i) Internal sources (ii) External sources.

When data are obtained from the internal reports or records of an organisation, it is known as internal source of data. For example, Hindustan Lever Ltd. publishes its annual report on total sales, profits, wages to employees, etc.

This report would constitute an internal source of data for marketing department of Hindustan unilever Ltd.

When data are collected from other organisations or through other sources, it is known as external source of data.

For example, in order to study the educational status of people in China, if we obtain information from China Government, it would be an external source of data.

TYPES OF SOURCES OF DATA

(i) Primary sources (ii) Secondary sources.

Data collected from primary sources are known as primary data. Data collected from secondary sources are known as secondary data.

Data collected by the investigator for his own purpose, for the first time from beginning to end, is called primary data. It is collected from the source of origin.

In the words of Wessel, Data originally collected in the process of investigation are known as primary data.” Primary data are original. 

The concerned investigator is the first person to collect this information. The primary data are, therefore, a first-hand information.

To illustrate, you may be interested in studying the socio-economic state of those students in your class who secured first division in their last examination.

You collect information regarding their pocket allowance, their family income, educational status, their family members and the like.

All this information would be termed as primary information or primary data, since you happen to be the first person to collect this information from the source of its origin.

If the data have been collected once and the same are being used now, these will be called secondary data. Data already collected may be available in a published or an unpublished form.

If a researcher wants to study the progress made by the country in the agricultural sector or the industrial sector, published information would be available in plenty.

The governme and several other institutions collect data regularly about the agricultural and industrial progress and the same may be us 8 again.

The data would be mostly in the form of published statements.

If the progress of results of a university is to be studied, the information will be available in the office records of the university and, hence, it will be unpublished information which can be utilised again, it will be secondary data.

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