CHAP Ter 1 Finding and Using Data We all like to share our own opinions with others Sometimes we are convinced that we are right But just stating an idea doesn’t mean it is true We need facts to convince others that we are right This is why using data to support an argument is so important Using accurate data makes your claims much stronger Data is information that is usually collected over time It most often consists of numbers such as measurements or amounts Data is collected every moment of every day in every part of your life Did your teacher take attendance today That’s data Did you check out a book today The library collected data about it Did you score well on your math test today That’s data too These are all examples of how numbers are collected and used to keep track of you at school 4 21st century skills library
Your teacher takes attendance to collect data about which students are in class each day The collection of credible data helps us make decisions At public schools attendance determines how much money the government will provide to the school Librarians look at statistics showing which books are popular to determine which types of books they should buy Once you start high school your grades become one of the things colleges will use to decide whether you are a good fit for their school There are two ways to find data You can collect it on your own or you can locate it from another source You can easily 5 55 Data Geek
Collecting data about school lunches helps cafeteria workers figure out how much food they need to prepare each day Photo Caption collect your own data at school by asking questions of others How much time do your classmates spend on homework each night How heavy are your classmates backpacks How many hours do your classmates sleep at night You can also locate data from sources in your school that are already collecting it Information from the lunchroom could tell you how many students buy lunch Librarians know how many books are checked out A refillable water bottle drinking fountain might have data on how many plastic bottles are saved Not all data is good data Part of collecting authentic data is 6 21st century skills library
to ensure that information is recorded accurately Data can be inaccurate if the person collecting it doesn’t use proper methods If a computer or other device is collecting the data it might not always record it correctly Worst of all the person collecting the data might skew the results on purpose in order to prove a false point When you use data collected by others you must be sure that it is credible It is always important to know who collected the data how it was collected and why it was collected When you collect your own data you must be careful to make sure it is accurate and that you are interpreting it correctly The data might not always prove the thing you want it to It might Data Everywhere If you are doing research on a topic that you cannot easily collect the data for there are many Web sites that provide data sets you can use For example many government agencies and private groups provide authentic data measuring social politi cal and natural systems Sometimes groups charge for data but many do not Look for free sources of data when you start your online search To find Web sites that offer free access to data see Find Out More at the end of this book You can also ask your teacher or librarian to help you find data that has already been collected by others 7 777 Data Geek
