What does data literacy enable individuals to do?

Data literacy is a critical skill that empowers individuals to effectively engage with data throughout its lifecycle. When individuals are data literate, they are not only able to read and interpret existing data but also to understand the context, meaning, and implications of that data. This capability allows them to create visual representations or narratives that enhance the communication of information derived from data.

The ability to communicate data effectively means that individuals can present their findings to various audiences, tailoring their messages to ensure comprehension. This holistic understanding enables informed decision-making, as individuals can recognize trends, patterns, and insights within the data and articulate these clearly to others.

The other options, while they touch on aspects of dealing with data, do not encompass the full range of competencies that data literacy provides. For instance, solely reading and interpreting data lacks the broader skills of creation and communication, which are essential in a data-driven environment. Similarly, while analyzing data using complex statistical methods can be a component of working with data, it is not the defining feature of data literacy as it focuses more on technical skills rather than the ability to understand and communicate data in a meaningful way.