Data,

Information,
Knowledge
and Processing
CHAPTER 1
Section 1.2

Sources of
Data
Learning Objectives
• define static data and give an example
• define dynamic data and give an example
• compare the use of static information sources with dynamic
information sources
• define direct and indirect data source
• understand the advantages and disadvantages of gathering
data from direct and indirect data sources
Sources of Information
Static Information Sources
• 'static' means 'to show little or no change’
• Once a static information source has been created, it is unlikely to be
changed or updated for a significant amount of time.
• Books and newspapers are other examples of static information sources.
Books take months, sometimes years to write. They are checked and edited
thoroughly before being printed. They won't be changed for a long time, if
ever.
• Newspapers on the other hand are printed each day and obviously they
change on a daily basis. However, once the newspaper is compiled and
printed for a particular day, it won't be changed again - thus it is a static
information source.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Static Sources
Advantages
Usually checked for accuracy so often more reliable than dynamic
sources
Can be used without access to the internet.
If the information is paper-based then it can be used without
access to a computer.
Have a historical copy to refer back to even if a later version is
produced. Whereas with a dynamic source, the data can be
overwritten or vanish
Can be distributed to the people who have a specific interest in
the information e.g. customers, teachers
Disadvantages
If held on a CD, the disk could be lost or damaged
Can take a long time to produce i.e. in terms of checking,
publishing and distribution
Specialised information can be expensive to purchase
May have a licence agreement which means that only one person
can use it at a time and that copies cannot be made
If a mistake is found in the information then new copies need to
be printed and distributed
Limited to the information available in the CD/book - not so easy
to cross-reference as it would be with a web site.
Dynamic Information Sources
• 'dynamic' is characterized by continuous change, activity or progress.
• A good example of a dynamic information source would be a web site
which is updated on a regular basis.
• However, you need to be clear that not all web sites are dynamic
information sources, some could be classed as static.
• Although many web sites are updated regularly there is nothing to
guarantee that the information is correct or unbiased. No one polices the
internet and basically anyone with access to web creation software and
hosting space can create a web site about anything they like. Unless the
content is illegal, then it will stay on the web for anyone to view.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Dynamic Sources

Advantages Disadvantages
Can be updated very quickly as changes happen Changes can be made quickly and mistakes may go
unnoticed

Often fairly inexpensive to maintain when compared You may need certain hardware such as a computer
with producing static information sources to access the internet or a mobile phone to access
information services.

A large number of people can access the information There may be conflicting information on different
at the same time web sites

It is easy to find related information or to cross- The information may be biased or completely wrong
reference information

You don't need to know where to look for the Information overload - it can feel overwhelming if you
information because you can use a search engine to don't know what you are looking for.
locate relevant web pages

Can access a lot of free content

Exam Style Questions

• A newspaper story is regarded as static data. Using another

appropriate example, describe what is meant by static data.
• 4 marks
• Specimen Paper 2020 (Q. 2 b)
• A CD-ROM encyclopaedia is considered to be a static information
source whereas a website encyclopaedia is considered to be a
dynamic information source. Explain the differences between static
and dynamic information sources.
• 6 marks
• June 2017 Paper 13 (Q. 3)
Direct and
Indirect Data
Sources
Direct Indirect Data Sources
Original Source Data/
Direct Data
• Data collected for a specific purpose or task and used for that
purpose and that purpose only
Methods of
collecting
direct data
Questionnaires

CONTAIN SET OF QUESTIONS MAY BE EASY TO DISTRIBUTE, PAPER BASED OR

QUESTIONS ON A OPEN ENDED OR CLOSE COMPLETE AND COMPUTER BASED
SPECIFIC TOPIC ENDED COLLECT
Interviews

FORMAL MEETING BETWEEN TWO QUESTIONS MAY BE STRUCTURED OR

PEOPLE IN WHICH ONE ASKS QUESTIONS UNSTRUCTURED
 Method in which
data collectors
Observation watch what
happens in a
given situation
 Using computers and sensors to
collect data

Data is analyzed, saved and

Data Logging results are output, often in the
form of graphs and charts

Data is collected Continuously

over a period of After regular
time intervals
Example: Traffic Calming

• The local council have given you the task of adding a

traffic-calming feature in a village. So before you decide on
the best method you will need some original data.
• This original data will include
• Traffic flow through the village
• How traffic behaves
• What do residents think about traffic in their village
• What is their preference in the method of traffic calming
(LED warning message, speed hump, swerve obstacle etc
Traffic flow : method used - Data-logger.
A vehicle sensor is laid across the road. This sensor is
attached to a roadside data-logger. As cars and lorries drive
over the sensor, their speed, time of day, size and frequency
is logged.

The advantage of a data logger is that gathers physical data

automatically.
Traffic behaviour: method used - Observation

You spend a day watching how traffic behaves as they approach the village - Do
drivers have any problems seeing existing speed signs? Do they approach fast
then brake? Do they bunch close together or do they keep well apart?

The advantage of observation for original data gathering is that it can capture
data that a data-logger cannot, such as human behaviour.
Resident opinion: method used
- face to face interviews

• Face to face interviews allows the project to gather personal

opinions, views and attitudes. What are their main concerns?
And so on.
• The advantage of interviews is that they may glean some
unexpected data and also capture general attitudes that a simple
questionnaire cannot. But they do take time.
Resident preference:
Questionnaire
• Every house in the village is sent a questionnaire to fill in. It
asks straight-forward questions such as 'How satisfied are
you with existing traffic calming' Scale 1 - 10
• The advantage of questionnaires is that you get answers to
very specific questions and you can do so fairly quickly. The
disadvantage is they can be difficult to fill in for more
complex questions such as attitude. You may also only get a
few back and so the sample size is too small.
 Pros Cons
You get the exact data you Data gathering may take a long
need time to collect.

Advantages You only gather as much or as

little as you need
Data gathering may be expensive
as you hire other companies to

and
get it for you.

You know exactly where the It may involve having to purchase

Disadvantages data came from and so you can equipment such as data loggers
estimate how reliable it is. and computers.

of Direct You may be able to sell the It may not be possible to gather
Sources data for other purposes. original data due to the time of
year e.g. you want winter
snowfall data and the project is
now in the middle of summer.
 • Indirect sources means data has been collected for a
Indirect Data particular reason but then that data is used for
something else.
Example 1: Online shop
• An online shop stores your email address and details of items you
have bought. They use this data to help with their stock control and to
send you an order confirmation. This is direct or original source data.
• But then they might sell your data (email address) to a similar
company (with your permission).
• This second company might then email you with a list of related items
you might be interested in.
• For example, you buy a computer game from one online company,
then an email arrives from a different company asking if you would
like to buy a strategy book for the game.
Example 2: Weather data
• Data loggers are set up all over the country to measure local weather
conditions.
• All this data is gathered together to allow weather forecasts to be
made. (Direct or original source data)
• But this 'data set' may also be purchased by a local business who
wants to see how sales of their ice-cream relates to the weather.
• This information is used to plan ice-cream production ahead of time.
(indirect data)
Example 3: Electoral Register
• By law, all residents must provide details of who is living in the
house/flat, how old they are and their gender. The purpose of this data
gathering to allow local authorities to handle voting in political
elections. (direct or original source data)
• But (with the person's permission) some of the list can be sold to
commercial firms such as a marketing company planning a new mail-
shot campaign. (indirect data).
By-product of processing

Data that has already

Not all indirect data is been processed for a
purchased from particular use might be
someone else. re-used for another
purpose.
Example 1: Restaurant Vouchers

• The 'Happy Chappy' café owner is making a roaring trade.

• Every item a customer orders is added to their bill. At the
end of their meal customers are presented with their bill. So
the bill is an example of direct data which has been
processed.
• But the owner wants to encourage her best customers to
come back again by offering a discount for those who have
spent a lot of money.
• So now she uses the bill to decide who to give out discount
vouchers to. Thus the bill has been processed for a different
purpose i.e. the voucher scheme
Example 1: Mobile Phone use

• Your mobile phone company keeps data of your phone

useage (direct data) so they can work your bill (processed
data).
• But then the phone company might analyse the data further
to work out what kind of customer you are. i.e. If you are a
heavy user they may offer you a better contract. Or perhaps
you are a very light user and so they may offer you
incentives to use your phone more.
• Thus your usage data has been processed for a different
purpose.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Indirect
Sources
Pros
Takes less time to gather than original (direct) data.
It may be cheaper to obtain than gathering original
data
Makes extra use of original data you already have by
processing for a different purpose
Archiving ensures that all the data you have
collected is available for uses you have not
considered just yet.
Cons
You may not know exactly where the data came
from and so it may be unreliable
If you have to buy the data from a specialist
company then it may be more expensive that
collecting it yourself.
There may be only a small part of the data needed
so you have to extract what you want from a large
data set.
You may not be able to obtain exactly the data you
want.
Exam Style Questions
• Companies often carry out investigations into the public’s likes and
dislikes. Investigations such as this can be done using direct sources or
indirect sources of information.
(a) Describe the advantages of gathering data from indirect data
sources. [4 marks]
(b) Describe the disadvantages of gathering data from indirect data
sources. [4 marks]
June 2020 Paper 13 Q. No. 5