Which is an example of primary data collection?

• A. Windshield Survey
• B. Census Data
• C. Health Reports
• D. Vital Statistics

Answer: (A)

Primary data collection means gathering information directly from the source for your own project, rather than using data someone else already collected. A windshield survey exemplifies this because the health worker observes the community firsthand during a drive, recording conditions like housing quality, infrastructure, and access to services—information obtained directly by the investigator. Census data, health reports, and vital statistics are already assembled by government agencies and organizations; they provide useful background but are considered secondary data for your study since they were not collected specifically for the current assessment. Therefore, the windshield survey represents primary data collection.