Data, Information and Knowledge, its characteristics and difference between Data and Information

Data, information and knowledge frequently overlap, mainly differing in abstraction. Data is least abstract, information next least, and knowledge most. Data becomes information by interpretation; e.g., the height of MD. Faruk is generally considered as "data", a book on MD. Faruk geological characteristics may be considered as "information", and a report containing practical information on the best way to reach MD. Faruk’s peak may be considered as "knowledge".

DATA 

DEFINITION

The word data is the plural of Latin datum, "something given," but it is not always treated as a plural noun in English. Data is a set of organized information; it is a quantification or measurement of the real world by a set of variables. Statistical data is a set of observations on which values of variables are given. Variables are things that one measures, controls or manipulates in a research problem.

The data is plentiful and easily available — H. A. Gleason, Jr.

Comprehensive data on economic growth have been published — N. H. Jacoby

EXAMPLES

     1.     Height of a man, suppose 70 inches, is a data;

     2.     Name of a person, suppose Rehan or Juni, is a data;

     3.     His/her weight, suppose 150 lbs., is a data;

     4.     His/her skin colour, suppose white, is a data;

     5.     His/her religion, suppose Islam, is a data; and so on.

CHARACTERISTICS

     1.     Data are the raw materials of information,

     2.     Data is a distinct piece of information,

     3.     Data must be disorganized or unprocessed,

INFORMATION

DEFINITION

One of the most common ways to define information is to describe it as one or more statements or facts that are received by a human and that have some form of worth to the recipient. For example, the Sesame Street character ``Cookie Monster" describes information as ``news or facts about something," or, as the first definition in the Random House College Dictionary suggests for information, ``knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstance; news." Cookie Monster's definition is consistent with the common notions that information must:

     

     1.     Be something, although the exact nature (substance, energy, or abstract concept) isn't clear;

     2.     Provide ``new" information: a repetition of previously received messages isn't informative;

     3.     Be ``true:" a lie or false or counterfactual information is mis-information, not  information itself;

     4.     Be ``about" something.

EXAMPLES

      1.     The average height or weight of several people, suppose 62 inch, is information;

      2.     The average weight of the class, suppose 130 lbs., is an information; and so on.

CHARACTERISTICS

      1.     Information is the resultant version of some data.

      2.     Information always be processed or organized

      3.     Information is the context in which data is taken.

KNOWLEDGE

DEFINITION

Knowledge is a combination of information, experience and insight that may benefit the individual or the organisation. "When crude oil prices go up by $10 per barrel, it's likely that petrol prices will rise by 2p per litre" is knowledge.

EXAMPLES

The shop manager can see that ‘Polar’ is the most popular ice-cream. Next time he places an order, he will ask for 4 times as much ‘Polar’ ice-cream than other ice-cream.

CHARACTERISTICS

     1.     General awareness or possession of information, facts, ideas, truths, or principles

     2.     Clear awareness or explicit information, for example, of a situation or fact

     3.     All the information, facts, truths, and principles learned throughout time

     4.     Familiarity or understanding gained through experience or study

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DATA AND INFORMATION

PRACTICAL EXAMPLE 1

Suppose, in your first, second, third and fourth year GPAs are: 3.0, 3.5, 3.5, and 4.0

Then so the CGPA is say something like: 3.5

Here, the individual GPAs are data

And then the finally calculated CGPA is information.

PRACTICAL EXAMPLE 2

Suppose, in your first year, you got individual GPs in four classes you took as: 3.0, 3.5, 3.5, and 4.0

Then your average grade = (3.0+3.5+3.5+4.0)/4 = 3.5.

Here, the individual GPs you got are data,

And the average grade that is calculated is information.

CHART

DATA	INFORMATION
Name or measure of a fact	Resultant form of the fact
Raw materials of information	Resultant version of some data
Unprocessed or unorganized	Processed or organized
Meaningful or meaningless	Must be meaningful
Examples: Marks, GP(Grade Point), etc.	Examples: GPA, CGPA, etc.

Just Remember

     1.     Positions of data and information are not always fixed,

     2.     They change themselves due to change of time or situation,

     3.     Just remember that, data is the primary or intermediate version of information.

REFERENCES: S.M. Zabed Ahmed, Chairman, Dept. of Information Science and                              Library Management, University of Dhaka

                             UNESCO

                             WIKIPEDIA

                             otec.uoregon.edu

                             www.merriam-webster.com


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