Data

Data are the fundamental building blocks upon which all educational research is built. The term data is the plural form of datum, referring to a single piece of information, whereas data refer to pieces of information. This distinction is most prominent in scientific or academic writing, whereas in other forms of writing, data can be singular or plural. Technology enhancements, particularly computer storage capacity, processor speed, and computer portability, have significantly increased the amount of data available to researchers. This entry explores in more detail common forms data can take in educational research and how they are used.