Which of the following is an example of secondary data?

• A. National surveys
• B. Government information
• C. Research statistics
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Secondary data are information that already exists and was collected by someone else for purposes other than your current appraisal. National surveys, government information, and research statistics all fit this idea: they’re produced by organizations for broad analyses or official reporting, and you’d use them to inform market context, trends, or demographics rather than to obtain property-specific measurements you gathered yourself. Because each source provides data that wasn’t collected specifically for your assignment, they’re considered secondary data, which is why “All of the above” is the best choice.

When using these sources, check currency, geographic relevance, sampling methods, and reliability to ensure they align with your appraisal needs. You’d typically pair secondary data with primary data—your own observations or measurements of the subject property—to provide the most robust analysis.