Question

What are (i) primary data? (ii) secondary data? Which of the two - the primary or the secondary data - is more reliable and why?

Answer 1

(i) Primary data: When an investigator collects the data himself with a definite plan or design in his mind, it is called primary data.
(ii) Secondary data: Data which are not originally collected rather obtained from the published or unpublished, sources are called secondary data.

Primary data are reliable and relevant because they are original in character and are collected by some individuals or by some institutions or by research bodies.