SS1 WEEK:10 TOPIC: DATA AND INFORMATION

CONTENT MEANING OF DATA: Raw facts or entity which no meaning has been attached to because it has not been processed is referred to as DATA. Data could be facts about people, places, things and their activities. When data passes through some manipulation activities in order to organize them to be meaningful or to achieve a desired result it is said to be processed the result of the processed data is called INFORMATION. TYPES OF DATA Data can take any of these forms 1. Symbols 2. Alphanumeric 3. Alphabet 4. Numeric Data can be gathered by: 1. counting: using counters 2. Observation of people, activities ,transactions or event 3. Questioner 4. Face to face interviews 5. Form filling. INFORMATION: Information can be defined as any piece of fact, data or news discovered, heard or communicated to anyone verbally, or through writing or through other useful means. DIFFRENCE BETWEEN DATA AND INFORMATION People who conduct market research surveys might ask member of the public to complete a questionnaire about a product or a service. These completed questionnaires form the data. The data must be processed and analyzed in order to prepare a report on the survey. The resulting report is information and maybe be used for decision making. DATA INFORMATION This is a raw fact Data that has been processed in such a way to be meaningful to the person who receive it Data are input into the computer system These are output from the computer system Data is meaningless to the user Information is useful to the user EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION: Advertisement on newspapers relating to vacancy; an experienced accountant needed for immediate employment. For further information, visit our website. www.zebralltd.com The zebra crossing, gives information to the road users to stop for people to cross the busy road. Green light informs the road users to go, red light inform the road users to stop, orange light inform road users to get ready. QUALITIES OF GOOD INFORMATION  It should be complete for its purpose  It should be relevant for its use  It should be sufficient and accurate for its purpose  It should be meaningful to the user  The user should have confidence in it  It volume should be manageable. etc