Final answer:
A traditional outer join with the outer join operator can be applied to both tables, and whether to use a left or right outer join depends on the desired results.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to creating a traditional outer join with the outer join operator, the join can indeed be applied to both tables involved in the query. In a traditional SQL outer join, specifying either a left or right outer join determines which table will include all its rows in the result set, along with the matched rows from the other table.
1. Is one of the tables more correct than the other? Not inherently, as the choice between using a left or right outer join depends on the specific requirements of the query and the desired result set. Neither table is 'more correct'.
2. In general, how could you group the data differently? Data could be grouped differently by using different types of joins, such as inner joins or cross joins, or by altering the selection conditions. The advantages of each approach depend on the context and the data retrieval needs.
3. Why did you switch between tables, if you did, when answering the question above? When discussing outer joins, one might switch between the left and right outer joins to illustrate how the results vary when each table is considered as the primary or secondary in the join operation. It is essential to understand both to correctly apply them based on the query requirements.