In the context of probability and statistics, primary data consist of □.

• A. data obtained from published sources such as books or journals
• B. data collected firsthand by the researcher for a specific purpose
• C. data generated by computer simulations
• D. data that have been processed and summarized by others

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of primary data in statistics: Primary data refers to data that is collected directly by the researcher for a specific research purpose.
2. Recognize that primary data is original and firsthand, meaning it has not been previously published, processed, or summarized by others.
3. Differentiate primary data from secondary data, which is data obtained from published sources such as books, journals, or data that has been processed and summarized by others.
4. Note that data generated by computer simulations can be considered primary if the researcher directly creates it for their study, but typically primary data emphasizes direct collection from real-world observations or experiments.
5. Conclude that the correct description of primary data is 'data collected firsthand by the researcher for a specific purpose.'