ABSTRACT
Researchers systematically collect and analyze information which will provide insights into specific problems or issues, typically called research questions. Intentionally studying a particularly issue, researchers approach the task in a highly organized and systematic fashion. A technical term referring to the information collected for a particular study is ‘data’. The word ‘data’ is synonymous with information and is typically used in its plural form. Thus, we find reports stating ‘data were collected over an entire semester’. The term ‘data’ can refer to an infinite list of materials. Everything around us is potentially ‘data’. Depending on the research question being posed, some data are more valuable than others. It is the researcher’s responsibility to systematically select the most appropriate information to answer a specific research question.
