Which statement about secondary data is true?

• A. It uses data collected from your own surveys
• B. It is always the fastest data source
• C. It uses stats/research conducted by others and is cost effective
• D. It cannot be used for decision making

Answer: (C)

Secondary data is data that has already been collected by someone else for a purpose other than your current question. The statement that best fits this idea is that it uses stats or research conducted by others and is cost effective. Because it already exists, you can access it quickly and usually at a lower cost than gathering new data through surveys or experiments. This makes it a practical starting point for analysis and decision making, though you do need to check whether the data fits your specific needs in terms of relevance, timeliness, and quality. Examples include government statistics, industry reports, and published research. In contrast, data you collect yourself through surveys or experiments is primary data—more tailored but typically more time-consuming and costly. Secondary data can still support decision making when carefully evaluated for fit and reliability.