Concept of Data 1

Rakesh S. Pandya

Data
What is data ?
Data represents a fact or statement of event without relation to other things. Ex: It is raining.

Data is a collection of facts, such as values or measurements. It can be numbers, words, measurements, observations or even just descriptions of things. Data can be qualitative or quantitative.
Qualitative data is descriptive information (it describes something) Quantitative data, is numerical information (numbers).
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Data
Hence data is simply exists and it has no significance beyond its existence (in and of itself). It can exist in any form, usable or not. It does not have meaning of itself.
Quantitative data can also be Discrete or Continuous: Discrete data can only take certain values (like whole numbers) Continuous data can take any value (within a range) Put simply: Discrete data is counted, Continuous data is measured
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Data
Data type ?
Data type or a type of data is same. It can also be a data storage format that contains specific type or range of values. A computer programs store data in variables. Each variable may be assigned to a specific data type such as : integers, floating point numbers (fractional), characters, string, array, dates and Boolean. Data types are used in all Database application. Ex. Var1 may have value 1.25 is a floating point Var1 may have value 345 is an Integer Var1 may have value Hello world is a string
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Data
Data that :
has been verified to be accurate and timely available is specific and organized for a purpose Is presented within a context that gives it meaning and relevance and can lead to an increase in understanding and decrease uncertainty

Concept of Data (RS Pandya)

Information
What is Information?
Information embodies the understanding of a relationship of some sort, possibly cause and effect. Ex: The temperature dropped 15 degrees and then it started raining.

Information is processed data that has been given meaning by way of relational connection. In Computer Based Business Information System a relational database makes information from the data stored within it.
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Information
Information is also data that have been processed from another data with meaningful and usefulness. The terms meaningful and useful are value-laden terms and usually subsume other qualities such as timeliness, relevance, reliability, consistency, comparability. The value of information lies solely in its ability to affect a behaviour, decision or outcome. A piece of information is considered valueless if after receiving it things remains unchanged.
Concept of Data (RS Pandya)

Data_1 Days Worked 30

Data_2 Rate per Day Rs. 50

Process for Total Amount to pay

Days worked x Rate per Day

Information Data_1 x Data_2 30 x 50 = 1500

Process
What is Process?
A process is a program which perform its task. A process is a set of logical instructions to be performed in sequence. All programs (system or application) performed the specific processes for which they are coded. Many processes work in foreground or in background. A process may be combination of various sub-processes. Hence end result depends on the completion of all sub-processes.
Ex. In the previous example Multiplication is a process.
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Reference Material
1.

2.

Using Technology in the Classroom, 5th ed. 2002, Allyn and Bacon; Boston by Gary Bitter & Melissa Pierson Teaching with Technology, 1998, Harcourt Brace College Publishers; Fort Worth by Priscilla Norton & Karin M. Wiburg

Concept of Data (RS Pandya)

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