What is a typical limitation of primary data in terms of area coverage?

• A. It is often only possible to cover a small area.
• B. It always covers the entire country.
• C. It naturally includes all regions simultaneously.
• D. It can cover unlimited areas.

Answer: (A)

Primary data collection involves gathering new information directly from fieldwork, surveys, or experiments for a specific purpose. Because it requires time, money, personnel, and access to sites, researchers usually limit the geographic extent to a small area that can be studied thoroughly within the available resources. Expanding coverage to a larger area would raise travel costs, sampling effort, and data-management demands, making it impractical for a single study. The idea of nationwide or unlimited coverage isn’t typical for primary data, so the best answer is that it is often only possible to cover a small area.