Which type of data collection involves obtaining information from external sources?

The type of data collection that involves obtaining information from external sources is external data collection. This approach is focused on gathering data that originates outside of the organization or system being studied. It can include information from published research, databases, publicly available statistics, studies conducted by other organizations, and more. External data collection is valuable as it allows researchers to gain insights, context, and comparative benchmarks that they might not have access to through internal data alone.

In contrast, other types of data collection may focus on internal processes or qualitative assessments that do not rely on outside information. For instance, automatic data collection involves gathering data through sensors or automated systems without human intervention, which does not pertain to external sources. Subjective data collection includes personal opinions or interpretations which are not sourced externally. Environmental data might capture information about environmental conditions but is not necessarily focused on external information in the same way that external data collection is.