Credible Data Interpretation Map Your Hazards Combining Natural

Credible Data Interpretation Map Your Hazards! Combining Natural Hazards with Societal Issues

What are data? • Data are often quantitative or qualitative values. • Data are often presented in graphs or figures. • Data are interpreted to create information and knowledge. Data displayed as a graph and as figures showing a drop in surface temperature in the Gulf of Mexico as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita passed over. What are credible scientific data?

Credible scientific data • • • Data that are unbiased Data that are accurate Data that are repeatable Data that meet scientific standards Data that should be trusted A gas chromatograph analyzes compounds that can be vaporized. It can produce data that are unbiased, accurate, repeatable and meet scientific standards. Where do credible scientific data come from?

Sources of credible scientific data • Scientific research – The data from the research must pass peer review (a process meant to ensure credibility). – If the data are not credible, then the interpretations from the data are not credible Example of work being peer reviewed. Why is it important to evaluate the credibility of data?

Importance of credible data interpretation • Biased data interpretation can be misleading • Credible data interpretations are not meant to be misleading, and follow scientific reasoning How would you ensure that the data interpretations are credible?

How to ensure data interpretations are credible • Use peer-reviewed journal publications • Use peer-reviewed federal or state publications (often called reports) • Avoid data interpretation funded by companies and organizations as they are often suspected of being biased.

Which interpretation of data is more credible and why? • http: //www. epa. gov/climatechange/ • http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Climate_change • http: //canadafreepress. com/index. php/article /55939

General guidelines for identifying credible data interpretation • Are the scientists collecting and interpreting the data generally unbiased and do they follow scientific reasoning? • Are credible data and other credible data interpretations cited?