Concept: The first step in any data processing activity is gathering the raw data.
Explanation: Data processing follows a logical sequence of activities.
The very first activity is collection, which means obtaining raw facts from the source.
At this stage, data is captured and recorded in a usable form before any other operation can begin.
Without collected data, there is nothing to manipulate, convert, or sort.
Manipulation comes later and involves arranging or calculating with the collected data.
Conversion also happens afterward, when data is changed into another format.
Sorting is another later step used to arrange data in a particular order.
Therefore, collection must always occur first because it provides the input needed by all other stages.
This makes collection the foundation of the entire data processing cycle.
In a typical computer-based system, collection may be done through keyboards, scanners, or sensors.
Once the raw data is successfully gathered, the next stages of processing can proceed smoothly.
Answer: B. Collection