Talk:Statistics/Different Types of Data/PS

I'm reintroducing the line about the clipboard because the point was to make it clear that anyone can gather primary data. It's not a matter of being authorized it's a matter of being trusted and believed. Gaelhalee (discuss • contribs) 06:34, 12 August 2012 (UTC) -

I am changing the definition of Secondary Data to make it clear that there is no statistical formula that Primary Data goes through to become Secondary Data. It should now be clear that it is a change of context, perspective and purpose not a change in the data. Also, for what it's worth I agree with was said below. Gaelhalee (discuss • contribs) 06:34, 12 August 2012 (UTC) -

i am removing the note on those negligent teachers abusing the word "data"
 * "The word "data" is the plural of datum, and therefore one should say for example, "the data are" and not "the data is". It is very regretable that even school teachers and others who have spent a life time in statistics make this elementary and jarring mistake."

this is simply not true any more. while the etymology of data is certainly rooted in being the plural of datum, as the merriam webster dictionary puts it, "Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural." moreover it is very distracting and just takes away from the purpose of this wikibook. the rest of the merriam webster note:
 * It occurs in two constructions: as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (as these, many, a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (as they, them); and as an abstract mass noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (as this, much, little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it.

at best it is a pedantic tangent, at worst it is an anachronistic distraction.