What term describes data collected by someone other than the user?

The term that describes data collected by someone other than the user is secondary data. This type of data is often obtained from existing sources, such as research studies, government reports, or databases. It contrasts with primary data, which is collected firsthand by the researcher for a specific purpose or study. Secondary data is valuable because it allows researchers to utilize information that has already been gathered, saving time and resources. It may also provide broader context and larger sample sizes than would be feasible in collecting primary data.

Qualitative data refers to non-numerical information, often gathered through interviews or open-ended surveys, and is not specifically tied to who collected it. Experimental data pertains to data obtained from controlled experiments, focused on establishing cause-and-effect relationships, which again does not align with the definition. Thus, secondary data is the most accurate term for data that is collected by someone other than the user.