How can SQL help me to devise a query that will bring up a set of required data, and allow for changes to be made to the data that directly update the relative table(s).

Sarah,

SQL will not help you to devise a query. SQL stands for structured query language i.e it is the language that you use to build a query.
e.g. SELECT * FROM Table1

To run an update you just use SQL Update

Hope this helps
David