Sociological data cannot be directly used to solve a problem, but it can be used to help people figure out what the problems are. And it can, at times, be used to help figure out what solutions will help solve that problem.
Here's an example. Sociological data can tell us what kinds of students are doing poorly in school. They can tell us what race the students are, what their parents' backgrounds are, where they tend to live, that sort of thing. Then we will know what kinds of students need the most help. But that doesn't tell us how to solve the problem.
So then people have to figure out solutions on their own. Once they do, they can try out the solutions. After that, they can use sociological data (gathered after they try out the solutions) to see if those solutions work. In other words, after they try to fix education, they can go back and collect data to see if the former "problem" groups have improved -- if they have started doing better in school.
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