Primary Data Collection

Introduction

Primary data collection is the practice of direct generation of research data by the investigator. Household surveys are the prototypical example of primary data collection. Contrasted with Secondary Data Sources, primary data collection can be personally directed by the researcher to ensure it meets the standards of quality, availability, and representativeness required for a particular research inquiry. With globally increasing access to survey tools such as software, field manuals, and specialized firms, data collected and owned by the researcher has become the dominant method of empirical inquiry in development economics.