What is referred to as data collected firsthand for a specific purpose?

The term that describes data collected firsthand specifically for a particular purpose is referred to as primary information. This type of data is gathered directly from original sources, often through methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or experiments, making it particularly relevant and tailored to the research question at hand. Because it is collected with a specific objective in mind, primary information tends to provide more accurate insights related to the particular needs of a study or business strategy.

In contrast, secondary information consists of data that has already been collected and published by others, making it less tailored and potentially less relevant to the specific research objectives. Tertiary information is a compilation or summary of primary and secondary sources, often found in encyclopedias or databases, and does not provide original data itself. Quantitative data refers specifically to numerical data that can be measured and analyzed statistically, which can be gathered through either primary or secondary research methods. While quantitative data can be primary if collected firsthand, not all primary data is necessarily quantitative. Hence, “primary information” is the most accurate term for data collected specifically for a designated purpose.