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How to Use Data
What is data and how can I use it?
Data, figures, and statistics are all around us in our everyday
world. On the evening news and in sports, statistics in the
form of data reports are presented and often misunderstood
and misused. In order to understand what data is and how you
can use it in writing grants it is important to know five key
elements about your data.
1. Source – What is the source of your data? It is a
reputable source that is well known and has a history of
collecting data? How will you cite their information in your
writing?
Having a source that has a record of providing reliable and
valid data will support the data you are using and including
a citation or footnote allows your audience to know your
data is from that dependable source.
2. Population – Who was surveyed in this report? Does
that population match the audience you want to know more
about? For example, you would not want to use the data for
men when
you are interested in data for women.
3. Size – How many people were surveyed for the report?
Is this statistic based on three people’s answers or
300? The larger your sample size, the better support you
will have for your data.
4. Data Representation (Percentages
or Raw Numbers) – Data
is often presented in reports with raw numbers and percentages.
Percentages are used more often in writing because they form
a better picture of the data but the raw numbers are occasionally
used if the size of the group surveyed is small (<100).
When the group is less than 100 is important to bring the
raw data to the attention of the audience you are writing
for because
the data may not be significant.
5. Significance – Data can have any number of significance
tests including confidence intervals, Chi-Square statistics,
and p values associated with them. Read the notes for data
users if available and become familiar with what tests of
significance they are using. When properly understood and
used they can
add substance to the data you are using to make your point.
When all five elements have been answered you can use the
data in the context of grant proposals, grant updates and
to help
support your organization’s mission statement. For
more assistance in using data, please call OCHNA at (714)
547-3631.
Where to Find Data
Finding reliable data can be a daunting task but below is
information and web links to credible and valid data reports.
OCHNA Data for Orange County www.ochna.org
The Orange County Health Needs Assessment (OCHNA) is a
community based, not-for-profit collaborative effort, created
to collect
and make available accurate and useful health data for
the community at large and to meet the requirements of
the Community
Benefits legislation of California Senate Bill 697. This
law requires not-for-profit hospitals to conduct a needs
assessment
of their service area every three years. They are required
to develop, and submit to the State, a community benefits
plan based upon the assessment. Every three years OCHNA
conducts
a survey of Orange County and publishes a data report with
valuable health information covering the areas of access
and utilization, risk behaviors, and major diseases.
The report is available at www.ochna.org
Other Data Resources
Below are links to reports and websites with valuable data
that can be used to support your grant writing and organization.
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