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Data and Statistics

Finding and Using Data, Software, & Statistics

Overview of Health Statistics

Research and Education Informationist

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Ayaba Logan
Contact:
Email: loganay@musc.edu
Library Suite 448
Office /Room 445
843-792-4213
Website Skype Contact: Loganay.informationist

Welcome

Welcome to the Data and Statistics Guide. Here you will find resources related to data, Statistics, software, visualization, and more. The purpose of this guide is to provide the community with places to seek and retrieve data and or statistics. Please contact us if you find an error or want to add something to the page.

Statistics vs. Data - What do you need?

Before diving head first into the dozens of options available for accessing data, it is important to understand if you are looking for raw data or statistics

 

Although these terms are often used interchangeably in normal conversation, in research and academia we need to understand the important distinction between data and statistics.

 

To put it simply,

  • Data is the raw information collected during the research process, is used to create statistics, and is often meaningless to readers until data analysis is complete.

  • Statistics are used to interpret and summarize the raw data so it will make sense to readers.

Raw Data

Statistics
  • made up of raw numbers which often come from data was collected as part of research studies or surveys
  • unprocessed data collected by researchers that can usually not be interpreted without statistical analysis
  • the raw information that statistics are created from
  • used to create new information and knowledge
  • interpreted/processed data derived from raw data, often to show relationships among variables
  • the result of data analysis
  • often presented in a format that humans can read and understand
  • commonly displayed as tables, charts, or graphs, or as numbers or percentages

 

 

data meme

 

 

 

 statistics meme