L2 · Collecting data: first-hand and second-hand

Learning goal

“I can tell first-hand data from second-hand data: first-hand data is data I collect myself, and second-hand data was collected by someone else.”

First-hand data — data you collect yourself: you ask the question, you count, you measure.

Second-hand data — data collected by someone else, which you read or use - from a book, a website, or another person's chart.

Source — where the data comes from: your own counting is one source; a website is another.

Survey — a way of collecting data by asking many people the same question.

Worked example

Our class asks: "How do students get to school?" We ask every student and write down each answer ourselves. The counts are: Bus 11, Walk 9, Car 6, Bike 2. This is FIRST-HAND data: we asked, we counted, we recorded. Nobody collected it for us. In all, 11 + 9 + 6 + 2 = 28 students answered. Most students ride the bus (11); fewest ride a bike (2). Say it plainly: if YOUR hands did the collecting - asking, counting, measuring - the data is first-hand.

Check yourself — explain it

Why is the get-to-school data first-hand?

Paired problem — example still visible

You count how many cars pass your classroom window in one minute. First-hand or second-hand? -> First-hand - you did the counting yourself

Faded completion — last step is yours

"Data is first-hand when ___ collects it. Data collected by ___ is second-hand." -> you (yourself); someone else

Ready to practise?

10 scored questions with a 3-rung hint ladder. Mastery needs 8/10 plus both gate questions.

Start practice →Take the unit quiz