We love data. It answers questions. But the definitive nature of data means you must use it with caution. When presented with a statistic that has broad implications, your first question should be about its integrity. Where did it come from? What was the sample size, time range, and breakdown of people from whom the stat was captured? What is the context around the collection of the data? Only when you have interrogated your data sufficiently should you consider how to use it.
