Which statement about big data characteristics is true?

Which statement about big data characteristics is true?

• A. It collects data on observed behavior and often requires powerful computers
• B. It relies on small, controlled experiments
• C. It uses only qualitative interviews
• D. It ignores digital traces

Answer: (A)

Big data is defined by collecting data from real-world behavior at scale and then analyzing it with substantial computing power. This statement is true because it reflects two key aspects: data come from observed actions across digital environments—such as click streams, sensor logs, and other traces left by people and devices—and the volume and complexity of these data require powerful, often distributed, computing resources to store, process, and analyze them efficiently. In contrast, small, controlled experiments are typical of traditional research designs that work with limited samples and tightly managed conditions. Saying that big data uses only qualitative interviews ignores the wide range of data sources and methods that big data encompasses, including quantitative signals from digital traces. And claiming that big data ignores digital traces contradicts the fundamental idea of big data, which relies on those traces to capture observed behavior at scale.

Big data is defined by collecting data from real-world behavior at scale and then analyzing it with substantial computing power. This statement is true because it reflects two key aspects: data come from observed actions across digital environments—such as click streams, sensor logs, and other traces left by people and devices—and the volume and complexity of these data require powerful, often distributed, computing resources to store, process, and analyze them efficiently.

In contrast, small, controlled experiments are typical of traditional research designs that work with limited samples and tightly managed conditions. Saying that big data uses only qualitative interviews ignores the wide range of data sources and methods that big data encompasses, including quantitative signals from digital traces. And claiming that big data ignores digital traces contradicts the fundamental idea of big data, which relies on those traces to capture observed behavior at scale.