SLO 1.4.1

Differentiate between data and information

Data:

Definition: Data refers to raw, unprocessed facts and figures. It can be in the form of numbers, text, images, sounds, or any other representation.

Nature: Data is often unorganized, lacks context, and doesn't convey meaning on its own. It's like the pieces of a puzzle that need to be put together.

Example: In computer science, data could be a series of numbers stored in a file, a list of names, or the color values of pixels in an image.

Purpose: Data serves as the foundation for generating information. It needs to be processed and analyzed to extract meaningful insights.

Information:

Definition: Information is data that has been processed, structured, or organized in a way that gives it context, meaning, and relevance.

Nature: Information is data that has been transformed to provide knowledge, answers to specific questions, or support decision-making.

Example: In computer science, information can be the result of processing data, such as a statistical summary of a dataset, a report generated from data analysis, or a graph representing trends.

Purpose: Information is the end goal of processing data. It's what we use to make informed decisions, draw conclusions, or communicate knowledge effectively.