Topic 2 - data and information

Topic 2 - data and information

1. types of data

   • Currency (£, $)
   • sound
   • Image
   • date/time
   • Integers
     • Whole numbers
   • Real
     • includes decimals, provides more accuracy than integers
   • String
   • Boolean
     • Selecting 1 of 2 options e.g. yes/no, male/female

2. what is data?

   • Details that are meaningless because they lack relevance I.e. numbers, words, images, sounds

3. Encoding - transferring data into a format that can be read and understood by a computer. Once encoded it can be processed and manipulated by various software

4. Coding - Abbrieviating data e.g. Y/N. Validation within a system can be set up to ensure that the data entered is sensible, possible and realistic.

   • Advantages
     • Saves space, takes less time to type in, more data can appear at once, easier to check mistakes and hides sensitive data
   • Disadvantages
     • Data loses meaning, quantifies the qualitative, conversion errors and precision reduced

5. What is the difference between data and information?

   • Data is raw values put into, stored and processed by a system whereas information is the result of the 'processed data, with added meaning

6. Quality of information

   • Accurate
   • Easy to understand
   • Relevant
   • Up-to-date
   • timeliness of information

7. How can data arise?

   • Experiments
   • Transactions (EPOS)
   • Automatic measurement of environmental quantities
   • Surveys (On-line)
   • Exam results (OMR)
   • Interviews (manual collection)
   • Management information system

8. Data

   • Direct data - collected for specific purpose e.g. library barcode's to track customers taking books out
   • Indirect data - used to create information that isn't related to the original purpose of the data collection e.g. demographics from what customers are buying more often
   • Static data - produced and distributed in a state that is not likely to change e.g. read only media - CD- roms. It can quickly become out of date if it deals with current affairs- best used for presenting fats e.g. D.O.B
   • Dynamic data - subject to change e.g. news. Businesses rely on it as it endorses a component as being up-to-date. Internet has made access to dynamic data easier

9. How does good quality information add value to an organisation?

   • it helps with decision making e.g. reports, graphs
   • Monitor and control
   • Target resources - demographics
   • Competitive advantage

10. What costs are incurred to get good quality information?

    • Manpower, data entry, hardware and software, data maintenance