Data Collection vs. Data Selection

There are important differences between data collection and data selection. During data selection, risk assessors evaluate and choose among available data. So the data should ideally be collected before the analysis phase begins. The analysis plan may call for data collection during analysis, but if you discover new data needs while in the midst of the analysis phase, as the assessor you can either temporarily halt the analysis phase until new data are collected or consult with the risk manager to determine whether problem formulation needs to be revisited.