Final answer:
Data are facts and figures in raw form, collected as part of scientific investigations or other types of research. They can be numerical or categorical and are essential for creating factual statements and reliable information in reports.
Step-by-step explanation:
Data are facts and figures in raw form. In the context of a scientific investigation, data refer to the observations collected to test a hypothesis. These observations can be numerical values, like quiz scores, or they can be categorical. When you collect data in a classroom setting, such as recording quiz scores, these are initially raw numbers that can be later summarized into grades, like A, B, C, D, or F.
It's important to understand that data serve as the basis for factual statements, which are built on evidence and can be proven or inferred. For example, if a scientist observes bacterial growth and records the measurements, this constitutes the raw data of the study. This data must then be analyzed and interpreted before it can become evidence to support a hypothesis. Methods such as statistics are often used to make sense of raw data. In the realm of statistics, data are the actual values that variables take on; they could be means or proportions related to a sample or population.
Finally, it is essential for providing reliable information in reports or research. This includes presenting specific facts, statistics, and examples from trustworthy sources or from one's own thorough research.