1: Data, information and knowledge
The relationship between data, information and knowledge
What is data?
Data can be:
Numbers.
Words.
Images.
Sound.
Data are details that are meaningless because they lack relevance.
If you look at data, it's either no use to you or not in a form that you can use.
What are the ways which data can arise?
From automatic measurement of environmental quantities.
From the results of an experiment.
From a survey.
From a transaction.
From the output of a management information system.
The differences between data and information
Data - Raw values put into, stored and processed by a data processing system and that information is produced together with a context that adds meaning.
Information - Informs you of something you did not already know or is presented in a way that has meaning and is useful.
Information
Comes from the processing of data.
Information is data which has been:
- Processed.
- Converted to give it meaning.
- Organised in some way.
Knowledge
How to interpret and apply the information by applying rules.
Once this is done, decisions can be made on the information received.
The reasons for encoding data and the problems associated with encoding
The reasons for encoding data
Coded data takes less effort to type in.
More data can appear on the screen.
Takes up less storage space.
Easier to check a code is accurate using validation checks.
Problems associated with encoding
Coarsens precision
Values judgements
Encoded data is less accurate from the data which it came.
Eye colour categories:
- Blue.
- Brown.
- Green.
Hazel eyes would be a problem.
Could put it into either brown or green, but is not entirely accurate.
Based on opinions.
People's opinion of heights of what is tall, medium and short would be different.