The document defines data, information, and knowledge. Data are facts without context, while information is data given meaning by relating it to a task. Knowledge involves making decisions and drawing conclusions based on combining information with rules, relationships, and experience. The relationship between the three is shown with data forming the base, information building upon data by organizing it, and knowledge as the highest level integrating information. Examples of knowledge resources include books, databases, and tertiary sources that provide information in print or electronic formats to support making informed decisions.

1. Knowledge Information
Samuel King
Library and learning Resources

2. What is Knowledge?

3. Definition of Knowledge
We can best identify “knowledge” by comparing
it with other forms of “information”

4. Data is…
•Facts, images, or sounds that may or may not
be useful to a particular task.
•Data is objective and has no relationship to
any particular opinion, mission or goal. It just
exists, independent of purpose.
•Example: The number 235 is an example of
“data”. Looking at this “data” independent of
any context has no useful meaning.
Johns, M.L. Information management for health professionals. Albany:
Thomson learning, 2001, p. 58.

5. Information is…
•Data whose content is useful to a particular
task.
•If we express the “data” number we looked
at previously (235) this way: “2:35PM”, the
data has meaning, and is, therefore,
information.

6. Knowledge is…
•A combination of rules, relationships, ideas and
experience.
•Knowledge involves informational choices and
decisions based on context.
•For instance, the conclusion, based on provided
information, that a patient has an infection is
“knowledge”.

7. The Relationship between Data,
Information and Knowledge
Knowledge
Rules, Relationships,
Ideas
Information
Formatted, Filtered,
Manipulated
Data
Facts, Images, Sounds

8. Examples of Knowledge
Information Resources
1. Books and Journals
2. Tertiary Databases (ex: Micromedex, Efacts)
3. Secondary Databases (ex: Medline, Cinahl)
Knowledge resources can be in print or electronic
format.

9. Secondary Database Examples
1. The library catalogue
2. Databases for locating journal articles (CINAHL
and MEDLINE)

10. Let’s Look at Secondary
Knowledge Databases More Closely