What term refers to the data collected from observations and experiments used to establish facts?

• A. Evidence
• B. Data set
• C. Information
• D. Observations

Answer: (A)

Evidence refers to data gathered from observations and experiments that support or establish facts. This goes beyond raw data or isolated observations by shaping them into a basis for confirming claims: measurements, test results, and observed outcomes are interpreted to show what is true or false about a situation. A data set is simply a collection of data points, which may become evidence when used to back up a conclusion. Information is data that has been organized or interpreted, but evidence specifically denotes the data that underpins a factual determination. Observations are the acts or results of noticing phenomena, and while they feed into evidence, the term itself emphasizes the data used to establish facts.