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How to Deal with Data

This is a companion guide to the Library 101: How to Deal with Data workshop. This guide contains definitions related to data creation, curation, and analysis, research planning, and other data resources.

Data Defined

Data is essentially a collection of facts or statistics, especially that which is referenced and analyzed to establish a knowledge base. Data can be considered a variety of things including:

  • Habit trackers, such as water intake in an app or bullet journal
  • Evaluation of elementary school students' reading levels
  • Asking which people in your social group like pineapple on pizza

These are all examples of data collection, you use the information to form an opinion. 

Types of Data

Types of data can be broadly broken down into two types, quantitative or qualitative. 

Quantitative Data

  • Objective
  • Organized numerically
  • Can be gathered by surveys or interviews using close-ended questions
  • Has a detailed, narrow focus
  • Examples include: 
    • Demographic data, survey responses with close-ended questions (such as yes/no/maybe or ratings)

Qualitative Data

  • Subjective
  • Organized categorically
  • Can be gathered through observations, focus groups, or interviews with open-ended questions
  • Has a broad, complex focus
  • Examples include:
    • Short answer feedback to a product review, letters, field observations 

Sage Research Methods Reference Tools

SAGE Research Methods has several foundational tools and reference sources for data description and research planning. Below is a list of resources, you will need to have access to SAGE Research Methods (for example your OpenAthens login) to access the full content of these items.

You can find similar SAGE Research Methods resources (linked via Related Guides & Other Sources or A-Z Databases) under Little Green Books (quantitative), Little Blue Books (qualitative), and Reference materials listed on the main site. For other resources on data analysis at Sherrod Library, please go to the Related Guides & Other Sources tab or OneSearch.