Data and Statistics

This guide is dedicated to data, data sets, statistics, and other available data.

As we think about data and finding data sets, we want to have an understanding of some terms and their definitions:

Data vs. Statistics

Data is a single, raw piece of information. 

Statistics offer an interpretation and summary of multiple piece of data together. 

Type of Data

Qualitative data is interpretation-based, descriptive, and focuses on words and emotions. We measure this with: 

• interviews
• observations
• open-ended surveys

Quantitative data is numbers-based, countable, or measurable. We measure this with:

• numerical values 
• scales
• weights

Scale of Data

Micro-level data focuses on the individual level. For example, we might analyze one person's individual response to a series of question. 

Macro-level data focuses on the larger picture. We are considering collective insights merged together. This could be communities, businesses, organizations, cities, states, or other large groups of data that are bigger than one person and their responses.

In 1900, W.E.B. Du Bois exhibited innovative statistical representations to document the accomplishments of Black Americans and the context of systemic and systematic oppression. W.E.B Du Bois's data portraits : visualizing Black America is available online to you. You can see the role of number, color, design, and statistics to represent experiences across areas of society. 

Data graphics (details) from the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, W.E.B. Du Bois (American, 1868–1963) and portrait, W.E.B. Du Bois, 1910, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division