Lesson plan

Data reporting

Data reporting is the process of collecting and submitting data. The effective management of any organization relies on accurate data. Inaccurate data reporting can lead to poor decision-making based on erroneous evidence. Data reporting is different from data analysis which transforms data and information into insights. Data reporting is the previous step that translates raw data into information. When data is not reported, the problem is known as underreporting; the opposite problem leads to false positives. Data reporting can be difficult. Census bureaus may hire perhaps hundreds of thousands of workers to achieve the task of counting all of the residents of a country. Teachers use data from student assessments to determine grades; manufacturers rely on sales data from retailers to indicate which products should have increased production, and which should be curtailed or discontinued.

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Article summary

Data reporting is the process of collecting and submitting data. The effective management of any organization relies on accurate data. Inaccurate data reporting can lead to poor decision-making based on erroneous evidence. Data reporting is different from data analysis which transforms data and information into insights. Data reporting is the previous step that translates raw data into information. When data is not reported, the problem is known as underreporting; the opposite problem leads to false positives. Data reporting can be difficult. Census bureaus may hire perhaps hundreds of thousands of workers to achieve the task of counting all of the residents of a country. Teachers use data from student assessments to determine grades; manufacturers rely on sales data from retailers to indicate which products should have increased production, and which should be curtailed or discontinued.

Key claims

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Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  3. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.