Definition
Data source
A data source is the person, instrument, record, system, or process from which data are obtained.
What it means
Ask, “Where did these data come from?” The answer might be a thermometer, people answering a survey, a school register, or a sensor. Knowing the source helps you decide what the data really describe and whether they are dependable.
Remember it
Trace the data back to their starting place.
Example
A class rainfall table is made from readings written down from the school rain gauge each day. The rain-gauge observations and record are the data source; the bar graph made later is a display of those data.
Watch for
A chart, table, or website showing data is not necessarily the original source; it may be reporting data obtained somewhere else.
Common mix-up
The data source tells where the data came from. The collection method tells how they were gathered, although one description can name both.
Exact meaning
A data source is the origin or immediate provider from which data are obtained, such as a person, survey, sensor, observation, administrative record, or database. Identifying the source helps explain what the data cover and how their quality should be judged.