In this post you will learn what is data and information and difference between them. Many students and freshers confused differences between these. Dat,a is the result of measurements of various attributes of entities such as product, student, inventory item and employee.
The measurements may be recorded in alphabetical, numerical,image, voice or other forms. Thus, the raw and unanalysed numbers and facts about entities constitute data. On the other hand information results from data when they are organised or structured in some meaningful ways. The processed data have to be placed in a context for have them to derive meaning and relevance. Relevance in turn adds to the value of information in decisions and actions. Data processing requires some infusion
of intelligence ( meaning, purpose and usefulness) into data to generate information. The application of intelligence may be in the form of some principles, knowledge, experience and intuition to convert data into information.
Definition of Information
The term 'information' is a very common word and it conveys some meaning to the recipient. It is very difficult to define it comprehensively. Yet, Davis and Olson 1 give a fairly good definition. They define information as "data that has been processed into a form that is meaningful to the recipient
and is of real or perceived value in current or prospective actions or decisions".
This implies that information is: Processed data
It has a form
Differences between data and information
Though the words 'data' and 'information' are often used interchangeably, there is clear distinction between the two.
Some of the major differences are as follows:
The measurements may be recorded in alphabetical, numerical,image, voice or other forms. Thus, the raw and unanalysed numbers and facts about entities constitute data. On the other hand information results from data when they are organised or structured in some meaningful ways. The processed data have to be placed in a context for have them to derive meaning and relevance. Relevance in turn adds to the value of information in decisions and actions. Data processing requires some infusion
of intelligence ( meaning, purpose and usefulness) into data to generate information. The application of intelligence may be in the form of some principles, knowledge, experience and intuition to convert data into information.
Definition of Information
The term 'information' is a very common word and it conveys some meaning to the recipient. It is very difficult to define it comprehensively. Yet, Davis and Olson 1 give a fairly good definition. They define information as "data that has been processed into a form that is meaningful to the recipient
and is of real or perceived value in current or prospective actions or decisions".
This implies that information is: Processed data
It has a form
- It is meaningful to the recipient
- It has a value, and,
- It is useful in current or prospective decisions or
- actions.
Differences between data and information
Though the words 'data' and 'information' are often used interchangeably, there is clear distinction between the two.
Some of the major differences are as follows:
- Data are facts but information, though based on data,is not fact.
- Though information arises from data, all data do not become information. There is a lot of selective filtering of data before processing them into information.
- Data are the result of routine recording of events and activities taking place. Generation of information is user-driven which is not always automatic.
- Data are independent of users whereas information is user dependent. Most information reports are designed to meet anticipated information needs of a user or a group of users. That is, information for one user is very likely to be data for other users.
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