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Uploaded byHaa'Meem Mohiyuddin
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Data, knowledge and information

This document discusses models for understanding the relationship between data, information, and knowledge. It defines data as raw facts and figures that have no meaning on their own. Information is defined as data that has been processed and given context or meaning. Knowledge is defined as understanding the rules for how to interpret and apply information. It provides examples of how data can be processed into meaningful information by giving it context, and how knowledge allows one to understand what actions to take based on information.

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Data, Information & Knowledge
h’mm – ict The old adage / saying goes along the lines that knowledge can be defined as knowing a tomato is a fruit… And that wisdom is therefore knowing that you don't add a tomato to a fruit salad... There are a number of models and frameworks that investigate the data-information-knowledge- wisdom continuum
h’mm – ict
h’mm – ict
h’mm – ict Data  Data are raw facts and figures that on their own have no meaning  These can be any alphanumeric characters i.e. text, numbers, symbols Note the “are” bit above? What does this mean?
h’mm – ict Data Examples  Yes, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes  42, 63, 96, 74, 56, 86  111192, 111234  None of the above data sets have any meaning until they are given a CONTEXT and PROCESSED into a useable form
h’mm – ict Data Into Information  To achieve its aims the organisation will need to process data into information.  Data needs to be turned into meaningful information and presented in its most useful format  Data must be processed in a context in order to give it meaning
h’mm – ict Information  Data that has been processed within a context to give it meaning OR  Data that has been processed into a form that gives it meaning
h’mm – ict Examples  In the next 3 examples explain how the data could be processed to give it meaning  What information can then be derived from the data? Suggested answers are given at the end of this presentation
h’mm – ict Example 1 Yes, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, YesRaw Data Context Responses to the market research question – “Would you buy brand x at price y?” Information ??? Processing
h’mm – ict Example 2 Raw Data Context Information 42, 63, 96, 74, 56, 86 Jayne’s scores in the six AS/A2 ICT modules ??? Processing
h’mm – ict Example 3 Raw Data Context Information 111192, 111234 The previous and current readings of a customer’s gas meter ??? Processing
h’mm – ict Encoding Information • Processing turns data into information • Sometimes you might want to turn information into data – i.e. to store it – this is called encoding • How do you code information to make it easy to re-process, without losing it’s meaning?
h’mm – ict Sources of Data Internal or External? • Internal communication is communication with people inside the same organisation or company • External communication is with people outside the company, such as suppliers or customers. Direct or Indirect? • Direct data are collected for the purpose of the processing being undertaken – e.g. time cards for pay • Indirect data are originally collected for another purpose, but is now being processed to provide extra information - e.g. spending patterns from credit cards
h’mm – ict Information Channels Formal or Informal? • Formal channels are the official (or reliable!) ones, such as memos, letters, the company noticeboard, etc. • Informal channels are the unofficial ones, such as office gossip, informal meetings and rumours – these can often be unreliable.
h’mm – ict The Value of Information • It is often said that we are in the information age, and that information is a valuable commodity. • Why is information valuable? Because: •It allows us to plan how to run our business more effectively – e.g. shops can stock what customers want, when they want it, and manufacturers can anticipate demand •Marketing materials can be targeted at people and customers that you know could be interested in your products and services •This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and therefore profit
h’mm – ict Good Quality Information • The characteristics of good quality information – it should be: •Accurate •Up-to-date •Relevant •Complete •On-time •Appropriately presented •Intelligible
h’mm – ict Collecting Information How is information about people collected? 1. Obviously you can ask people questions about their spending habits, etc. (but they might not like it!) 2. Or you can use a more indirect approach: • Supermarket loyalty cards - e.g. easily identify vegetarians! • Credit card transactions - amounts and locations - can help prevent fraud, too! • ATMs, CCTV, till transactions, etc.
h’mm – ict Coding Information • Information stored in a computer is often coded • Coding categorises information and can replace long, description strings with a few letters or numbers (or both!) • You are probably familiar with examples such as F for female and M for male
h’mm – ict Coding - Advantages Information is often coded because: • It is quicker to enter into the computer • It require less disc space to store, and less memory to process • It can make processing easier – or possible – as there will be fewer responses • It improves the consistency of the data as spelling mistakes are less likely • Validation is easier to apply
h’mm – ict Coding - Disadvantages Coding also has some negative effects : • Information is coarsened by forcing it all into categories – there might not be a category that matches what you want to record – e.g. hair colour • The same can be true of rounding numbers – the intervals or numbers of categories is called the granularity – this needs to be chosen carefully to maintain the quality of the information
h’mm – ict Exam Tip  You’ll nearly always be asked to give examples of data processed into information  Don’t use: • Traffic lights • Dates of birth
h’mm – ict Knowledge  Knowledge is the understanding of rules needed to interpret information “…the capability of understanding the relationship between pieces of information and what to actually do with the information”
h’mm – ict Knowledge • Data and information deal with facts and figures • Knowing what to do with them requires knowledge • Knowledge = information + rules • Rules tell us the likely effect of something • For example: you are more likely to pass your A level IF you do your coursework and revise for your exam!
h’mm – ict Knowledge Examples  Using the 3 previous examples: • A Marketing Manager could use this information to decide whether or not to raise or lower price y • Jayne’s teacher could analyse the results to determine whether it would be worth her re-sitting a module • Looking at the pattern of the customer’s previous gas bills may identify that the figure is abnormally low and they are fiddling the gas meter!!!
h’mm – ict Knowledge Workers  Knowledge workers have specialist knowledge that makes them “experts” • Based on formal and informal rules they have learned through training and experience  Examples include doctors, managers, librarians, scientists…
h’mm – ict Expert Systems  Because many rules are based on probabilities computers can be programmed with “subject knowledge” to mimic the role of experts  One of the most common uses of expert systems is in medicine • The ONCOLOG system shown here analyses patient data to provide a reference for doctors, and help for the choice, prescription and follow-up of chemotherapy
h’mm – ict Summary Information Data Context Meaning= ++ Processing Data – raw facts and figures Information – data that has been processed (in a context) to give it meaning