The Sheridan Libraries

Data and Statistics

Finding and accessing data and statistics across a range of disciplines.

What is the difference between Data and Statistics?

 

Data are the direct result of a survey or research. Data are raw information before any interpretation or analysis. Data are generally in a machine-readable data file.

 

Statistics are the study of data through data analysis. Statistics can be numerical, or visual, such as a summary table or a graph. Statistics are summaries of data generated by descriptive statistics. These include measures of frequency, distribution, variation, and rank.

   
   

When would I use data?

  • Use data when you are trying to answer the questions of how or why some phenomenon or process is occurring.
     
  • Data should be used to derive new knowledge or corroborate existing observations.

When would I use statistics?

  • Use statistical data when trying to answer the questions of how much or how many. 
     
  • Statistical data should be used when you need facts to support an argument or thesis.


Statistics has multiple meanings, and can refer to either:

  •  the discipline concerned with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, or
     
  •  statistical data: the statistical tables that are the result of statistical analysis on raw data

The focus of this libguide is finding and accessing statistical data. For assistance with conducting statistics on your own, refer to the Help with Statistics section of the Data Management Libguide.

  • Last Updated: Dec 17, 2024 2:51 PM
  • URL: https://guides.library.jhu.edu/data-stats
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Tags: data, statistics