Data Literacy

One important question when you begin your search is to figure out if you need data or statistics to help answer your research question. Data and statistics are often confused, but knowing the difference before starting your search is essential.

Data:
Data are raw, unprocessed numbers or pieces of information that have been collected but not yet analyzed. They are often in their original, unorganized state, awaiting interpretation. For example, a dataset of individual responses in a survey.

Statistics:
Statistics are the result of analyzing or organizing raw data to extract meaning. They summarize or interpret the data, helping to identify patterns or trends. For example, the average score of a survey across all participants.

ICPSR offers the following distinctions between Data and Statistics: 

Data are: (most times)

• machine-readable, 
• analyzed, 
• plottable lists or collections of information
• able to be manipulated and analyzed directly, offering flexible analysis 

Statistics are: (most times)

• tables, charts, graphs, reported numbers and percentages
• results of data analysis, giving the context of analysis and researcher interpretation

Do you need …

1. A quick number or analysis and/or summary? You may not need data but summary statistics. Consider looking outside of ICPSR.
2. Data to analyze, answering questions like “how many,” “how much,” and so forth? Data is what you need. 
3. Still not sure what you need? Check out the the decision tree below to help you decide if you need data or summary statistics.