Certiport Business Practice Exam

Secondary data consists of information that has already been collected and published by others for purposes other than your specific research. The choice that highlights facts from professional journal articles and government demographic data exemplifies this definition. This type of data is typically gathered through previous research efforts and serves as a valuable resource for studying trends, making market assessments, or forming foundational understanding in various fields.

In contrast, survey results from your focus group and consumer responses collected directly by a company are classified as primary data, as these pieces of information are freshly obtained directly from individuals for a specific study or analysis. Samples of product sales from competitors may seem like secondary data as well, but they primarily derive from proprietary information and business internal reports, which may not be accessible without specific insight into the competitors’ operations.