Knowledge, Information and Data

AIMS :  To understand the distinction between knowledge, information and data.  To understand that data can arise from direct capture, or as a by-product of another operation.  To describe the effect of the quality of the data source on the information produced.  To understand the need to encode information as data.  To understand the problems associated with the coding of value judgements.  Understand that information is a commodity and as such can have a monetary value, the level of which depends on its accuracy, its potential use and its particular intended use.  Describe the overheads involved in ensuring that information is up-to-date.

Knowledge, Information and Data Knowledge, Information and Data  Data:  Raw values relating to facts, events or transactions.  Information:  Processed data.  Data which has meaning and context.  Knowledge:  The use of information in context, to make decisions.

KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERT SYSTEMS  Computers use human knowledge to solve problems  knowledge as data or rules within the computer

Encoding of information  It is often necessary to encode information as data.  Reasons for Encoding. Reasons for Encoding. Reasons for Encoding.  This can lead to problems. Quality of Data The quality of the data source affects the information produced. Accurate Up-to-date Complete

VALUED JUDGEMENTS  What is a valued judgement?

Loss of precision due to coding value judgements.  A hotel asked customers to score their service in the hotel according to this system: 1-Excellent, 2-Good, 3-Average, 4-Bad, 5-Poor The average mark from 100 customers was 1.8. Are these statements true?  All our customers think our service is good or better.  Our average score is good to excellent.  Our customers think we are consistently good.  Think of 2 reasons why this is not always a reliable way of storing information.

Input, Process, Output INPUTPROCESSOUTPUT FEEDBACK

Data Capture  Data can arise from different sources:  Direct: Direct:  Indirect: Indirect: Amazon

Date-stamping of information  Information may be out-of-date by the time it has been processed.  Ensuring data is up-to-date can be time- consuming and costly.

Classification of information  Source  Nature  Level  Time  Frequency  Use  Form  Type

Problem  A school is planning the introduction of a computer-based attendance system for classes and registration groups. The purpose of the system is to produce information for the following end-users:  Class teachers  Pastoral managers (tutors/heads of year)  Senior managers (e.g. deputy head)  For each of the different end-users describe, with the aid of an example, information that the system might produce in relation to their requirements.

Case Study  Collecting Information  Or, ‘Nightmare scheme’  (Pg 36-37)

Exam Question 1. Describe briefly what is meant by data, information and knowledge, giving examples of each. (6) 2. Describe three ways in which data can be or can become, of ‘poor quality’. (3)

Exam Question  Travelling sales representatives working in the UK can make extensive use of company credit cards to pay for goods and services. A company credit card is one that is issued by a company to its representative. All charges and information relating to each transaction are sent directly to the company.  List 4 items of data which are captured each time the card is used. (4)  Other than payment information, suggest one other potential use for information which can be derived from this data. (2)

Exam Question  Many market research firms use questionnaires as a means of gathering raw data for companies about the popularity of their products.  Explain why IT is widely used in market research. (4)  Once the data has been collected, it can be used to give the clients information about their products. Explain the difference between information and data in this context. (4)