Chapter 2: Data Literacy

SUBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

Unsolved Questions:
1. Data literacy is the ability to read, understand, create and communicate data as
information. It is important in the modern world because:
(i) It helps us understand that different types of data may have good or poor
quality,i.e., the data may be reliable or unreliable.
(ii) It helps us understand that different types of data carry different values or
significance.
(iii) It makes it easier to understand how data is collected and presented.
2. Data refers to raw facts and figures that are unprocessed and don’t possess any
meaning, e.g., a list of numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5…). On the other hand, information is
processed data that has been organized, structured and presented in a meaningful
context, e.g., if we add ‘roll number’ as context to the list of numbers, then the data
becomes information.
3. The DIKW model is a pyramid-shaped model of knowledge management
whichrepresents the relationship between Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom.
(i) Datais the main component of the DIKW model and consists of raw facts,
figures, etc.
(ii) Information is processed data and is used to convey meaning within a specific
context.
(iii) Knowledge provides a deeper understanding that is gained through
interpreting the information.
(iv) Wisdom is the highest level of the DIKW model and helps in decision-
making.
4. Quantitative data refers to the data values that can be measured, counted and
compared with each other on the basis of quantity. For example, the age of a person,
the number of pages in a book, the mileage of a vehicle, etc.
On the other hand, qualitative data refers to the data values that can depict the quality,
properties or the distinguishing characteristics to be classified into one out of the two
or more categories. For example, the color of eyes, the name of the author of a book,
the type of vehicle, etc.
5. Discrete data consists of discrete values that are whole numbers and cannot be
subdivided further. For example,the number of students in a classroom, the number of
items sold in a store, etc. On the other hand, continuous data represents measurements
that can take any value within a range and can be infinitely subdivided into smaller
increments. For example, the height and weight of individuals, temperature readings,
etc.
11. Critical thinking helps in effective data literacy because it enables users to analyze
data objectively, identify biases and evaluate the validity of sources. It also helps in
interpreting data accurately, making informed decisions and solving problems effectively.
It further ensures that data is used responsibly and accurately, leading to better outcomes.
 14. Describing data is the ability to understand and describe data, including understanding
concepts such as how data is categorized into data types and the way it is stored using
variables, datasets and data structures.
It helps in a better understanding of data by identifying the trends and outliers present
in the data. It also simplifies large datasets by summarizing them.
19. To protect sensitive information, some common data security measures that can be
taken are:
(i) Adding two-factor authentication to your accounts.
(ii) Usingstrong passwords with a combination of digits, letters and symbols.
(iii) Using an advanced encryption algorithm to encrypt data.
(iv) Applying firewalls to the outgoing and incoming network traffic.
(v) Ensuring the use of updated software.
(vi) Using the latest anti-virus software.
22. Government initiatives provide different rules, regulations and frameworks that help
in enhancing data privacy and security, thus protecting the personal data of individuals.
One such initiative is the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. This act emphasizes
obtaining informed consent from individuals before processing their personal data.
Through this, we have the right to know how data is being collected, used and stored.
Based on this information, we can choose to give or withhold our consent.
24. The following steps are involved in the process of data interpretation:
(i) Understanding the data
(ii) Cleaning and preprocessing the data
(iii) Exploring the data by applying exploratory data analysis
(iv) Visualization
(v) Pattern recognition
Data interpretation is important because it helps to transform raw data into meaningful
insights, which help in informed decision-making and planning.