Interpreting data involves which of the following?

• A. Constructing a scientific argument that explains the data and whether it supports the hypothesis.
• B. Collecting additional raw data.
• C. Discarding the hypothesis if any data contradicts it.
• D. Publishing the data without drawing conclusions.

Answer: (A)

Interpreting data means turning the numbers and observations you collected into a reasoned explanation about what they mean for your hypothesis. It involves comparing the results to the predictions you made, deciding whether the data support or challenge the hypothesis, and laying out the reasoning with evidence. You also consider uncertainties, potential sources of error, and alternative explanations, so the conclusion isn’t just a claim but a logical argument grounded in what the data show.

That’s why constructing a scientific argument that explains the data and whether it supports the hypothesis is the best fit. The other options describe steps that are part of gathering more information or handling results in a rigid way, but interpretation is about making sense of what you already have and stating how it relates to your hypothesis.