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Computer Fundamentals - Data and Information

Data is a collection of raw facts and figures that lacks meaning until processed into information, which is useful for decision-making. There are various types of data, including quantitative, qualitative, structured, unstructured, and big data, each with unique characteristics. Information, on the other hand, is processed data that is organized, meaningful, and essential for informed decision-making.

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23 views5 pages

Computer Fundamentals - Data and Information

Data is a collection of raw facts and figures that lacks meaning until processed into information, which is useful for decision-making. There are various types of data, including quantitative, qualitative, structured, unstructured, and big data, each with unique characteristics. Information, on the other hand, is processed data that is organized, meaningful, and essential for informed decision-making.

Uploaded by

nomandp77
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Computer Fundamentals - Data and Information

What is Data?
Data is a raw material; it’s a collection of facts and figures. Data does not have a significant meaning
because of its raw nature. Data may include text, figures, facts, images, numbers, graphs, and symbols
and it can be generated from different sources like sensors, surveys, transactions, social media etc.

G15, KPL, and Gud are some examples of data. Data needs to be processed to convert into a useful
manner which is known as information. For example – Gud is data; after text processing, it converts
into Good which is information.

Raw material

Unstructured information

It has no context

Processed Data

Structured information

It has context

A proper analysis of data plays an important role in fields like research, science, business, healthcare,
agriculture, and technology, driving decision-making and innovation.

Characteristics of Data

Some characteristics of different types of data are as follows −

Type of Data Characteristics

It's in numerical nature.

Quantitative Data It can be measured and quantified like height, weight, temperature,
etc.
This type of data can be analysed using statistical methods.
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It is descriptive.

Qualitative / It can be explored using colours, textures, opinions or any other


Descriptive Data related feature.
It's often subjective which requires interpretation.

It can be categorical or ordinal.

It is organized in a predefined structure and usually includes a tabular


form like databases, or spreadsheets.
Structured Data Easy to search

It can be analysed using standard tools like SQL.


Allows performing queries to insert, delete and update.

It lacks a predefined structure.


It does not have a pre-defined structure.

It may include text documents, social media posts, images, videos,


Unstructured Data
etc.

It is difficult to analyse using traditional methods.


It processes using advanced techniques like natural language
processing (NLP), machine learning, etc.

Data are bigger.

It is complex and processes using traditional data processing


Big Data
applications.

It has five V's to identify i.e. volume, velocity, variety, veracity, and
value.

It gives information on data about data.

Metadata It includes data dictionaries, file descriptions, tags, etc.

It gives a direction to understand, manage, and improve data search


ability and usability.
It is continuously generated and transmitted in a real-time
environment like sensor data, social media updates, financial market
Streaming Data data, etc.
It requires real-time data processing.

It often uses applications like IoT, real-time analytics, etc.

Types of Data

Types of Data

Quantitative
It's available in numerical form, like 50 Kg, 165 cm, 15887 etc.
data

Data that take certain values like whole numbers. For example, the number of
Discrete Data
employees in a department.

Data that can take any value within a range. For example, wind speed, and
Continuous temperature. For example - Over time, certain continuous data, such as the weight of
Data the baby over the year changes or the temperature in the room during the day
changes.

Qualitative It's available in a descriptive form for example name, gender, address, and features
data of a person.

Nominal Data that represents categories with no inherent order. For example, colours, and
Data gender.

Data that represents categories with a specific order or ranking. For example, ranking
Ordinal Data
satisfaction levels as "poor," "average," or "excellent."

Categorical The data which represents categories or labels and is often qualitative is called
Data categorical data. It can include nominal and ordinal data.

Numerical
This type of data includes numbers. It can be either quantitative or qualitative.
Data

Time Series
Data collected over time intervals like stock prices, weather data, and sales figures.
Data

Data associated with geographic locations like Google maps, GPS data, and satellite
Spatial Data
images.

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What is Information?
Information is processed data. It is always useful and used in decision-making. A person who has a lot
of information about a particular thing is always considered a knowledgeable person. Hence, a good
information base always makes a good knowledge base and a good knowledge base helps to make
healthy or fruitful decisions.

Characteristics of Information

General Characteristics of Information are as follows −

It is effective and complete to make decisions.


True information is broad in scope.

Information relates to the current situation and has an acceptable level of integrity.
Information is always compatible with response time.

Information is concise and does not contain delicacy.


Information is precise and accurate.

Information is always relevant.


Information can be verifiable.

Information contains facts; that can be shared for making fruitful decisions.
Information is organised and stored for future reference.

Differences Between Data vs Information

S.No Data Information

1 Data is a raw material It's processed data

2 It is meaningless It is meaningful

3 Is not use in decision-making Uses in decision-making

4 Data does not rely on information The information relies on data

5 Data is a collection of facts Information kept facts in context

6 Data is unorganized Information is organized

Data is represented in the form of graphs, Information is presented in the form of words,
7
numbers, figures, or statistics language, thoughts, and ideas.

8 Data does not have context Information has context


It can be considered as a single unit that is
9 It is a product and a collection of data
unprocessed

It is measured using meaningful units like


10 It is measured in bytes and bits.
concerning quantity and time

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