DATA FORMATING 

Raw data is very useful but it is often required that the raw data be processed/formatted into a more usable form. This can be to make the data more usable and easy to handle, or the data may need to be analyzed by a computer which only accepts the data in a particular form. 

Making the data easier to manipulate isn't always straightforward. To keep the integrity of the data and make sure the least amount of data values or integrity is lost while formatting, the researcher must pay close attention to how data is manipulated. This can mean:

- using a weighted average instead of a regular average in order to better represent a set of values

- checking to make sure typos aren't made when calculating values as the error can compound depending on the calculation 

- using software to perform calculations can save a lot of time and be very accurate but researches should check to make sure the answers obtained are feasible, in case an error was  made along the way. if there are any major doubts about the answers generated, running the calculation a second time may show if there are any inconsistencies with the first answer.