Which term refers to recorded observations used in analysis?

• A. Observations
• B. Predictions
• C. Data
• D. Hypotheses

Answer: (C)

In science, data are the recorded observations used in analysis. When you collect measurements or notes during an experiment and organize them into a set, table, or graph, you’ve created data that you can analyze to uncover patterns or test ideas. Observations are the raw noticing itself, while data are those observations captured in a form that lets you compare, summarize, and draw conclusions. Predictions are forecasts about what will happen, and hypotheses are testable statements explaining why something occurs; both are part of the reasoning process, not the recorded observations used for analysis. Data can be qualitative (descriptions) or quantitative (numbers), and they are the evidence you use to evaluate hypotheses and assess results.