Introduction to What Makes Good Data
Representing Reality: What Makes Good Data • 5m 38s
You probably have goals for yourself and your teams, and some ideas for achieving those goals. Maybe you also have a strategy for your non-profit or business. That's also super important. Goals and strategy are great, but they only work when you know where you are and can keep track of where you're going. This is why good data is so essential--without it, we can't have an effective strategy or set and achieve useful goals. In this program, we're exploring the characteristics of good data.
Up Next in Representing Reality: What Makes Good Data
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Where Does Data Come From?
Data doesn't just appear magically. It comes from somewhere. Data may be created from active methods such as experiments, interviews, or surveys, or passive methods such as observation or archival research. Understanding where data comes from is crucial to using it well.
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Sample vs. Population
What's a sample, and why should I care? Knowing whether your data is from a sample or a population helps you understand what questions to ask. Data from samples is easier to get, but it's also potentially biased. So with samples you want to know whether the sampling methods were good--meaning tha...
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Good Constructs
Choosing a good data construct is the most important part of getting good data. The construct is the thing we choose to measure. Hopefully, a construct is a good match for the thing we want to know. But sometimes it isn't. What makes a good construct?
