Define Data :

To b e c o m p l e t e l y a c c u r a t e , t h e w o r d ‘ d a t a ’ i s t h e p l u r a l o f
‘datum’, a single piece of data.

Data can take several forms; it can be characters, symbols,

images, audio clips, video clips

Sets of data:
11 0 0 5 3 , 6 4 1 6 0 9 , 1 6 0 0 1 2 , 3 9 0 0 7 2 , 3 8 2 3 9 7 , 1 4 11 8 6 ,
computer , Rohan

These are sets of data

which do not have a
meaning until they are put
into context.
Define
Information
I n f o r m a t i o n i s d a:t athat has been given meaning, which often
r e s u l t s f r o m t h e p r o c e s s i n g o f d a t a , s o m e t i m e s b y a c o m p u t e r.

The processed data can then be given a context and have

meaning.

The difference between data and information is that data has no

meaning, whereas information is data which has been given
meaning.

If we are told that 110053, 641609, 160012, 390072, 382397, and 141186 are all postal
codes in India (a context), the first set of data becomes information as it now has
meaning.
Data
Processing :
O n a c o m p u t e r, d a t a i s s t o r e d a s a s e q u e n c e o f b i n a r y d i g i t s ( b i t s )
in the form of ones and zeros.
We can store data on a fixed or removeable media such as hard-
disk drive, solid-state drive, DVDs, SD cards, memory sticks or in
RAM.
Data is usually processed for a particular purpose, so that it can
be analysed.
The computer processing involved uses different operations to
produce new data from the source data.
Direct and Indirect Type of
Data:
Direct data is data that is collected for a specific purpose or task
a n d i s u s e d f o r t h a t p u r p o s e a n d t h a t p u r p o s e o n l y. I t i s o f t e n
referred to as ‘original source data’.
Examples of sources of direct data are questionnaires, interviews,
observation, and data logging.

Indirect data is data that is obtained from a third party and used for
a different purpose to that which it was originally collected for and
which is not necessarily related to the current task.
Examples of sources of indirect data are the electoral register and
businesses collecting personal information for use by other
organisations (third parties).
Direct Data Sources :
Questionnaires
A questionnaire consists of a set of questions, usually on a specific
subject or issue.
The questions are designed to gather data from those people being
questioned.
A questionnaire can be a mixture of what are called closed questions
(where you have to choose one or more answers from those provided)
and open-ended questions (questions where you can write in your
answers in more detail).
Questionnaires are easy to distribute, complete and collect as most
people are familiar with the process.
T h e y c a n b e c o m p l e t e d o n p a p e r o r o n c o m p u t e r.
Direct Data Sources :
Interview :
An interview is a formal meeting, usually between two people, where
o n e o f t h e m , t h e i n t e r v i e w e r, a s k s q u e s t i o n s , a n d t h e o t h e r p e r s o n ,
the interviewee, answers those questions. Interviews are used to
collect data about a topic and can be structured or unstructured.
Structured interviews are similar to a questionnaire, whereby the
same questions are asked in the same order for each interviewee and
with a choice of answers. Unstructured interviews can be different for
each interviewee, particularly as they give them the opportunity to
expand on their answers. There is usually no pre-set list of answers
i n a n u n s t r u c t u r e d i n t e r v i e w.
Direct Data Sources :
Observation :
Observation is a method of data collection in which the data
collectors watch what happens in a given situation.
The observer collects data by seeing for themselves what happens,
rather than depending on the answers from interviewees or the
accuracy of completed questionnaires.
Direct Data Sources :
Data Logging :
Data logging means using a computer and sensors to collect data. The
data is then analyzed, saved and the results are output, often in the form
of graphs and charts.
Data logging systems can gather and display data as an event happens.
The data is usually collected over a period of time, either continuously or
at regular intervals, in order to observe particular trends.
It involves recording data from one or more sensors and the analysis
usually requires special software.
Data logging is commonly used in scientific experiments, in monitoring
systems where there is the need to collect information faster than a human
possibly could, in hazardous circumstances such as volcanoes and nuclear
reactors, and in cases where accuracy is essential.
Examples of the types of information a data logging system can collect
include temperatures, sound frequencies, light intensities, electrical
currents, and pressure.