Direct & Indirect Data

Direct & Indirect Data

1. Direct

   • The source and collection method is know and verified
     • The exact data required can be collected
       • Can change the data being collected in response to answers
         • You only gather as much or as little as you need
           • You may be able to sell the data for other purposes.
   • May not get a large range of data
     • Data may not be available-location/time
       • Data gathering may take a long time to collect.
         • It may involve having to purchase equipment such as data loggers and computers.

2. Indirect

   • Large range of data available that could not have been collected directly
     • Data can be available from different locations and time periods
       • Analysis might already have been complete on some of the data
         • Takes less time to gather than original (direct) data.
           • It may be cheaper to obtain than gathering original data
             • Archiving ensures that all the data you have collected is available for uses you have not considered just yet.
   • Do not know if any bias was placed on the collection
     • Cannot be certain of accuracy of the recording of data
       • May not have all the information about how, when and where it was collected to make a valued opinion on its usefulness
         • If the information was not originally collected, may not be able to get hold of it
           • If you have to buy the data from a specialist company then it may be more expensive that collecting it yourself.
             • There may be only a small part of the data needed so you have to extract what you want from a large data set.

3. ADVANTAGES

4. DISADVANTAGES