The data that need to be acquired, and the sources of such data, must be identified as a matter of utmost importance. No amount or depth of subsequent data analysis can make up for an original lack of data quantity or quality. In addition, the quantity of data, their qualities, and how they are sampled and measured, have implications for the choice and effectiveness of the data analysis techniques used in subsequent analysis. Conclusions Most research requires data and data analysis. Data acquisition is of utmost importance and considerable effort should be made to obtain or generate good data.
Good data are data whose characteristics enable the research objectives to be met.
Data of poor quality or undesirably low quantity will lead to unsatisfactory data analysis and vague results. The characteristics of the data, particularly their type, quantity, and how they were sampled, constrain the choice of data analysis techniques able to be used on the data. Data analysis can only be as good as the original data allow.