This document provides an overview of data collection for a business statistics course. It defines data and discusses the importance of a data collection plan. It distinguishes between primary and secondary data sources, as well as internal and external sources. Primary data is collected directly from first-hand experiences through methods like surveys, experiments, and observations. Secondary data has already been collected by others through sources like published journals and government records. The document compares the merits and demerits of primary and secondary data sources.