Data

1. Defining Data

Data is the pieces of information that we use in order to answer some statistical question. It could be a number or an attribute.

But ultimately, it's the pieces of information that we use to get a more accurate picture of a scenario. Every piece of data helps us to get a more accurate description, which begs the question, how do you obtain data? Where does it come from? Do you just make it up? Where is data?

term to know

Data

Information used in a study to answer a statistical question.

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2. Evaluating Types of Data

There are two types of data: available and raw. Often, it is easier to find data that has already been collected and organized. Available data is data that has already been collected by someone else and is usually organized in a way that makes it easier to use.

Now, who collects data? Well, a lot of places collect data, such as:

• Government organizations
• Polling organizations
• News sources
• Government entities
• Private entities

The vast majority of sources are trustworthy. However, when using available data, it's important to think critically about what the information is trying to convey. It’s essential to break apart the information and ask yourself these questions:

• Who collected it?
• Are they reputable?
• Are they trustworthy?
• When was it collected?
• How was it collected?
• Why did they collect it?

But what about less obvious characteristics such as whether or not a source has an agenda? This is a key point. Having an agenda, whether intentional or not, can introduce what's called bias.

Typically, polling organizations, news organizations, and government entities do their best to gather relevant, unbiased information. However, it is important to note the goal or agenda of an organization, because this can be a source of bias. Typically, bias occurs unintentionally and reflects subtle aspects of how the data are collected.

What can you do if no data available exist to answer your question? In this case, you can collect data yourself. Gathering information yourself generates raw data. Raw data requires additional organization and processing before it can be used.

terms to know

Available Data

Data collected by some other entity—a government organization or private company.

Raw Data

Data that is unorganized, unprocessed, and not summarized. Typically, this is data that is not already available.

Bias

The systematic favoring of certain outcomes in a study. There are many ways to introduce bias into a study.

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3. Gathering Data

If you choose to collect your own data, you must think critically and ask yourself these questions:

• Who will receive this data?
• For whom is the data intended?
• How will you and others gain access to it?

Collecting data is important because it's the source of statistics. Think about data as the raw means of creating something useful. If you collect your data well, the statistics are going to be accurate. If you collect your data poorly, then your data is poor. There's no rescuing that.

big idea

You can't make useful statistics out of poor data. Thinking critically will help you determine which type of data should be used for your purposes.