Learn French: Le chercheur analyse les données, alors l'étude est scientifique. - The researcher analyzes the data, so the study is scientific.

Yes, you could say donc l'étude est scientifique. Both are used to show a consequence. alors is very common in everyday spoken French and translates well to "so." donc is a bit more like "therefore" and puts a slightly stronger emphasis on the logical conclusion, but they are often interchangeable.

Why is data translated as a plural word, les données?

In English, we often treat "data" as a single mass noun (like "water" or "information"). In French, a single piece of data is une donnée. When referring to a collection of data, you must use the plural form, les données.

Is the word chercheur related to the verb chercher?

Exactly! The verb chercher means "to look for" or "to search." By adding the -eur ending (which is like adding "-er" in English), you get un chercheur, which literally means "a searcher" but is the standard French word for a researcher.

Just to be sure, why is it l'étude and not la étude?

Because étude is a feminine noun that starts with a vowel sound. In French, when le or la comes right before a vowel or a silent h, the vowel in the word for "the" is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. This makes the words flow together smoothly.