Information Literacy

Data literacy is “understanding what data mean, including how to read charts appropriately, draw correct conclusions from data and recognize when data are being used in misleading or inappropriate ways” (Carlson et al., 2011). 

Data is factual information used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation. Data can be qualitative (non-numerical or descriptive) or quantitative (numerical).

Everyone uses data, in different ways. People from any discipline may use a variety of methods to explore, analyze, and communicate data in their research.

One way to become more data literate is to more carefully consider where data comes from.

Source

• Who collected it?
• Was it an individual or organization or agency? 
• The data source and the reporter or citer are not always the same. For example, advocacy organizations often publish data that were produced by some other organization. When feasible, it is best to go to the original source (or at least know and evaluate the source).
• If the data are repackaged, is there proper documentation to lead you to the primary source? Would it be useful to get more information from the primary source? Could there be anything missing from the secondary version?

Authority

• How widely known or cited is the producer? Who else uses these data?
• Is the measure or producer contested?
• What are the credentials of the data producer?
• If an individual, are they an expert on the subject?
• If an individual, what organizations are they associated with? Could that association affect the work?

Objectivity & Purpose

• Who sponsored the production of these data?
• What was the purpose of the collection/study?
• Who was the intended audience for or users of the data?
• Was it collected as part of the mission of an organization? Or for advocacy? Or for business purposes? Other purposes?

Currency

• When were the data collected? Keep in mind that there is often a time lag between collection and reporting because of the time required to analyze the data.
• Are you looking for the most recent figures available? If so, are these the newest available figures? 

Collection Methods & Completeness

• How are the data collected? Count, measurement or estimation?
• Consider what data points/questions were collected/asked and left out. Even a reputable source and collection method can introduce bias.
• If a survey, what was the total population -- how does that compare to the size of the population it is supposed to represent?
• If a survey, what methods used to select the population included, how was the total population sampled?
• If a survey, what was the response rate?
• What populations are included? Excluded?

Consistency / Verification

• Do other sources provide similar numbers?
• Can the numbers be verified?

Source: Gould Library. (2020). Data, datasets, and statistical resources research guide. Carleton College. gouldguides.carleton.edu/c.php?g=146834&p=964943