Sourcing suitable data can be a difficult and time consuming and confusing process with a large number of data providers with a range of products and multiple data sources.

Types of data sourcing:

i. Secondary Data
• Data gathered by another source (e.g research study, survey, interview)
• Secondary data is gathered BEFORE primary data because you want to find out what is already known about a subject before you decline into your own investigation and some of the questions can possibly answered by other investigators or authors.

ii. Primary Data
• Data never gathered before.
• The advantage is you can find data you need to suit your purposes and disadvantage is usually more costly and time consuming than collecting secondary data.
• Primary data usually collected after secondary data is collected.
• Primary data can be gathered by communication methods and observation method.