After you collect data, you need to look at them and ask yourself,"What do the data tell me?"

For example, a weather forecaster mght collect data about a hurricane. The data might include where the hurricane is, how fast it is moving, and in which direction it is moving. A weather forecaster can use these data to predict where and when the hurricane might hit land.
How Good Are These Data?

When you collect data, you must be sure they are accurate. "Accurate" means "correct." Damaged tools can give you inaccurate data. For example, a damaged tape measure may not measure length accurately. Here are some tips for getting accurate data.