Data and Information

Definition of Data

Data are raw facts. They are figures, words and symbols that have not been processed or put into meaningful form. Data can be referred to as raw material from which information is produced.

Types of Data

1. Quantitative Data
2. Qualitative Data

Quantitative Data

Quantitative data are data that can be counted or measured, and given a numerical value.
Examples of quantitative data are given below:
Mobile number
Scores of tests and exams e.g. 74.5, 67, 98, etc.
The weight of a person.
The temperature in a room.

Types of Quantitative Data

a. Discrete data: Data that can be counted and has finite values is known as discrete data. Examples: 1, 2, 50, 89
b. Continuous data: Continuous data are data which can assume any value. They have infinite values. Examples: 1.33, 0.222, 45.11111

Qualitative Data

Qualitative data are data that can’t be expressed as a number, and so it can’t be measured. It mainly consists of words, pictures, and symbols, but not numbers. It is also known as Categorical Data as the information can be sorted by category, not by number.
Examples of qualitative data:
Colors
Names of countries such as Switzerland, New Zealand, South Africa, etc.
Ethnicity such as American Indian, Asian, etc.

Types of Qualitative Data

a. Nominal Data: This data type is used just for labelling variables, without having any quantitative value. The term ‘nominal’ comes from the Latin word “nomen” which means ‘name’
Examples of Nominal Data:
Gender (Women, Men)
Hair colour (Blonde, Brown, Brunette, Red, etc.)
Marital status (Married, Single, Widowed)
b. Ordinal Data: “Ordinal” means “order”. This type of qualitative data places variables in rank or order. Examples of Ordinal Data: First, second, and third, etc, low, medium, and high.

Sources of data

Data could be gathered or collected from various sources. Some of the sources include the following:
i. Federal Office of Statistics
ii. National Population Commission
iii. Independent Electoral Commission
iv. Examination Bodies
v. School attendance Register
vi. Bank Statement

Definition of Information

Information is processed data. It can also be defined as knowledge gained about a particular fact or circumstance.

Sources of information

Information could be gathered from different sources. Some of the sources of information include the following:
i. Radio
ii. Television
iii. Newspaper
iv. Computer

Qualities of good information

a. Relevance: It must be suitable for the purpose it is required for.
b. Accurate: It is free from errors
c. Availability: It should be easy to obtain or access
d. Timely: It should be available at the right time
e. Comprehensive/Completeness: It should contain all necessary details
f. Reliability: It should come from a reliable source.

Processing of Converting Data into Information

The processing of data into information consists of a combination of activities and procedures. Some of the ways raw data can be converted into information are:
i. Collecting: Data to be processed need to be gathered from various sources
ii. Classifying: This is the process of identifying certain characteristics in an item of data and putting them into categories or groups according to those characteristics
iii. Sorting: Sorting takes the form of arranging data into a predefined order of sequence.
iv. Editing: This takes the form of correcting mistakes from the body of data.
v. Calculating: This is by performing arithmetic manipulation such as adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplication
vi. Translating: This is the process of changing the language form of a piece of data into another.

Difference between Data and Information

Data	Information
1. Raw facts	1. Processed data
2. An unorganized array of elements	2. Arranged element
3. Unanalyzed sets of element	3. Analyzed element
4. It makes no meaning	4. It is meaningful