Final answer:
In Microsoft Access, you use a criteria within a query to specify which records should be selected from a table. Criteria are the conditions that filter the data based on the user's requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
You can tell Access which records are to be selected by specifying a criteria. A criteria is used within a query to filter the records from a table based on specific conditions. For instance, if you're working with a table that stores student data, and you only want to find students who have scored more than 80 in a test, the criteria in your query might be set as "Score > 80". This criterion ensures that only records matching this condition are retrieved when the query is run.
The ability to specify criteria is fundamental in database management as it allows the user to sift through large amounts of data and find only the information that is relevant to a particular question or task. This process of selecting and retrieving data based on a set of criteria is a core function of Microsoft Access and similar database management systems.
In the context of scientific research, justifying the selection of the kind of data needed to answer a particular scientific question is akin to determining the appropriate criteria for a query in a database. The researcher must carefully consider what information is necessary and how to appropriately structure their query to retrieve that data.