What is the difference between data and information?

Question

What is the difference between data and information?

Answer

The difference between data and information is primarily based on context and meaning. Data consists of raw facts and figures that, on their own, lack meaning. Information, on the other hand, is data that has been processed and given context, making it meaningful and useful for decision-making.

Key differences include:

Nature:

Data: Raw, unprocessed facts and figures without inherent meaning (Lee, 2002; Mortimer, 1993; Chen et al., 2018).

Information: Data that has been processed, organised, or structured to provide meaning (Lee, 2002; Mortimer, 1993; Chen et al., 2018).

Context:

Data: Lacks context and is often unstructured and chaotic (Nazarov, 2024; Mortimer, 1993).

Information: Has context and is structured, providing a holistic content (Nazarov, 2024; Mortimer, 1993).

Purpose:

Data: Collected as a basis for inference and further processing (Birnbaum, 2007).

Information: Used to inform decisions and actions, often within a specific context or system (Mortimer, 1993; Birnbaum, 2007).

Transformation:

Data to information: Data becomes information when it is processed and interpreted to provide meaning (Nazarov, 2024; Birnbaum, 2007).

In summary, data is the raw input that, when processed and contextualised, becomes information. This transformation is crucial for making informed decisions and understanding complex systems.

Understanding the distinction between data and information is essential for effectively utilising digital technologies and information systems.

References

1. Lee, J., 2002. Data, information, and knowledge.. The Lancet. Oncology, 3 6, pp. 384. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(02)00781-7
2. Nazarov, N., 2024. Information and Data Correlation and Differentiation. Actual Problems of Russian Law. https://doi.org/10.17803/1994-1471.2024.168.11.021-030
3. Mortimer, A., 1993. DATA AND INFORMATION. **, pp. 7-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-0683-7.50009-3
4. Birnbaum, M., 2007. Data, Information, and Indicators*. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 22, pp. 471 – 472. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00005276
5. Chen, J., Ayala, B., Alsmadi, D., & Wang, G., 2018. Fundamentals of Data Science for Future Data Scientists. Analytics and Knowledge Management. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315209555-6