Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Primary data is data collected directly by a researcher through firsthand experience, observations, surveys, or experiments specifically for their study. It is original and unprocessed information gathered for a particular research purpose.
Related terms
Survey: A method of gathering information from individuals, usually using a questionnaire to collect primary data.
Observation: The action or process of closely monitoring subjects or phenomena in their natural setting to collect primary data without interference.
Experiment: A research method involving the manipulation and control of variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships, primarily generating primary data