Construction Quote by Clifford Geertz
“What we call our data are really our own constructions of other people’s constructions of what they and their compatriots are up to.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Interpretation of Cultures, Clifford Geertz, 1973
Our data are shaped by layers of interpretation, reflecting both our own and others’ perspectives.
In simple terms: Data are built on multiple interpretations.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias in data sources.
Themes
interpretation
culture
bias
knowledge
construction
Mood
analytical
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research design
- media analysis
- policy making
- cross‑cultural studies
Key Concepts
social constructivism
epistemology
semiotics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your assumptions shape the data you collect?
- What perspectives are missing from your dataset?
A Different Perspective
Data never fully escape subjectivity.
![“I'm telling you, I could teach at a university, [George] Carlin, a whole semester. The construction and deconstruction of the words, the language, the order.” quote by Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af2/jay-mohr-4777_construction_i-m-telling-you-i-could-teach-at-a-unive_29549.jpg)
![“[Culture] denotes an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms, by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life.” quote by Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.jpg)
