In the context of statistics and research, which of the following activities is an example of actually gathering or collecting raw data, rather than organizing or analysing it?

Introduction / Context:
This verbal reasoning and basic statistics question asks you to distinguish between data gathering and data processing. In any research or decision making process, information passes through stages: collection, organisation, analysis and interpretation. Examinations often test whether you can recognise which activities correspond to each stage. Here you must pick the option that shows the act of collecting raw data from the real world.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Option A describes counting votes in an election to find the next governor.
• Option B describes making a pie chart based on information about television sets.
• Option C involves computing the mean weight of cancer patients.
• Option D uses results of a mathematical model to predict weather.
• Option E involves calculating the median of test scores.
• We assume that data gathering means physically or directly obtaining original values from observations, people or instruments.

Concept / Approach:
Data gathering, also called data collection, is the stage at which you obtain primary values. For example, asking questions in a survey, measuring a person's weight, or counting votes are all data gathering activities. Once you already have the numbers, drawing graphs, computing averages and making predictions are later stages. The key is to see whether the activity described is capturing new values or simply using existing values for analysis or presentation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Analyse option A: Counting the votes in an election means reading each ballot or electronic record and tallying it. Each individual vote is a primary data point coming directly from voters. This is a classic example of data collection. Analyse option B: Making a pie chart using a sample of 1,000 people does not gather new data. The data about types of television sets must already be collected. Creating the chart is an example of data organisation and visualisation, not collection. Analyse option C: Finding the mean weight of cancer patients requires weight data that has already been measured. The calculation of the mean is a form of data analysis, not gathering. Analyse option D: Using a mathematical model to predict weather relies on previously collected data and formulas. Prediction is a form of interpretation and forecasting, not data collection. Analyse option E: Calculating the median of test scores again assumes that test scores are available. This is statistical analysis rather than gathering.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick way to verify is to ask: in which option is someone directly interacting with the real world to produce new primary values? Counting votes clearly involves reading each vote and recording it. All other options begin with a dataset already present, because one cannot make a pie chart, compute a mean or median, or run a predictive model without prior numbers. Therefore only option A qualifies as primary data gathering in a strict sense.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is a method of presenting data visually but does not create the data. Option C performs an arithmetic operation on collected numbers. Option D uses existing data to forecast future conditions. Option E again performs an operation on given scores. These are important statistical activities, but they represent analysis or presentation rather than the initial act of data collection that the question is asking about.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes label any activity involving numbers as data gathering, even when no new information is collected. Another mistake is to ignore the phrase example of data gathering and instead focus on which activity seems more complex or technical. Remember that data gathering is about the source stage where the values first enter the system. If the data must already exist for the described action to take place, then that action is not gathering but processing.

Final Answer:
The activity that best represents the direct collection of raw data is counting the votes in an election to determine the next governor, which is option A.