Final answer:
Option (a), a physical count of the number of cars, is not an example of secondary data because it represents a direct observation and firsthand data collection. Secondary data typically includes information from previously completed research or data collections by other individuals or agencies and is nonreactive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question presented is asking to identify which among the given options is not an example of secondary data. Secondary data often includes works such as books, articles, census reports, and newspaper stories, which are based on previously completed research or data collection by others. However, a physical count of the number of cars passing through an intersection, as described in option (a), represents primary data because it involves direct observation and firsthand collection of information.
Secondary data analysis involves using data collected by others and applying new interpretations to it. Not only does this save time and money, but it also provides depth to research without the risks and investment required in collecting primary data. One of the characteristics of secondary data is that it is nonreactive; it does not influence the behavior of the subjects being studied, as it relies on past information collected by other researchers or agencies.