What are the Precautions you must take while using Secondary Data?

What are the Precautions you must take while using Secondary Data?

The investigator should take precautions before using the secondary data. In this connection, following precautions should be taken into account.

1. Suitable Purpose of Investigation:

The investigator must ensure that the data are suitable for the purpose of enquiry.

2. Inadequate Data:

Adequacy of the data is to be judged in the light of the requirements of the survey as well as the geographical area covered by the available data.

3. Definition of Units:

The investigator must ensure that the definitions of units which are used by him are the same as in the earlier investigation.

4. Degree of Accuracy:

The investigator should keep in mind the degree accuracy maintained by each investigator.

5. Time and Condition of Collection of Facts:

It should be ascertained before making use of available data to which period and conditions, the data was collected.

6. Comparison:

Investigator should keep in mind whether the secondary data’ reasonable, consistent and comparable.

7. Test Checking:

The use of the secondary data must do test checking and see that totals and rates have been correctly calculated.

8. Homogeneous Conditions:

It is not safe to take published statistics at their face value without knowing their means, values and limitations.