Which of the following is an example of primary data?
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option A —
A public opinion poll on who should be the next President.
Why A is the correct answer:
Primary data is original, first-hand data collected by a researcher for a specific purpose or project. In the case of a public opinion poll, the researchers are actively gathering new information directly from respondents to address their specific research question.
Why the other options are not Primary Data:
B) A critical analysis of Julius Caesar: This is secondary data. The author of the analysis is interpreting existing historical records or literature rather than collecting new, first-hand evidence.
C) A person's Instagram account: While this might contain personal photos, when used for research, it is generally treated as secondary data (or "naturally occurring data"). The content was not created specifically for the purpose of your study.
D) Inflation data uploaded at RBI website: This is a classic example of secondary data. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has already collected, processed, and published this information for general use; researchers accessing this website are using data that already exists.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
