Archival Data

Archival Data Archival data, as existing but not current, include newspaper articles, reports, and other types of agency records. On a local level, clinics, agencies, and nonprofit organizations may have data appro- priate for a community health assessment they may be conducting. Archival data can provide the historical or cultural context of a problem, as well as information about past demand or need for a problem or historical information on previous program participants. One limitation to archival material is that the data may not include key information that is sought or may not be complete. Another potential problem with archival data is that the extent to which the data were initially collected accurately is unknown. These factors influence the data’s overall usefulness and trustworthiness.