What are the characteristics of and differences between data and information?

Information is delineate because the structured, organized, and processed data, conferred inside context, that makes it relevant and helpful to the one who desires it. Data suggests that raw facts and figures regarding individuals, places, or the other issue, that is expressed within the type of numbers, letters or symbols. 

Information is that the knowledge that is remodeled and classified into an intelligible type, which may be utilized in the method of deciding. In short, once knowledge end up to be purposeful when conversion, it’s referred to as info. It’s one thing that informs, in essence, it provides a solution to a specific question. It may be obtained from numerous sources like newspapers, the internet, television, people, books, etc. 

Data: 

Data is a raw and unorganized fact that is required to be processed to make it meaningful. It can be considered as facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. 

Data are individual units of information. In analytical processes, data are represented by variables. Data is always interpreted, by a human or machine, to derive meaning. So, data is meaningless. Data contains numbers, statements, and characters in a raw form. 

Let’s understand it with an example,  see it is a fact (or data) that an apple a day can keep the doctor away. But why it is not told, means this doesn’t tell us about what makes apple healthy but if it tells that apple provides different vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which keeps us healthy and are needed by our body; then it is information as it conveys the full meaning of the fact.

There is a subtle difference between data and information. Data are the facts or details from which information is derived. Individual pieces of data are rarely useful alone. For data to become information, data needs to be put into context.

Comparison chart

Data versus Information comparison chartDataInformationMeaningData is raw, unorganized facts that need to be processed. Data can be something simple and seemingly random and useless until it is organized.When data is processed, organized, structured or presented in a given context so as to make it useful, it is called information.ExampleEach student's test score is one piece of data.The average score of a class or of the entire school is information that can be derived from the given data.Etymology"Data" comes from a singular Latin word, datum, which originally meant "something given." Its early usage dates back to the 1600s. Over time "data" has become the plural of datum."Information" is an older word that dates back to the 1300s and has Old French and Middle English origins. It has always referred to "the act of informing, " usually in regard to education, instruction, or other knowledge communication.

Data vs. Information - Differences in Meaning

Data are simply facts or figures — bits of information, but not information itself. When data are processed, interpreted, organized, structured or presented so as to make them meaningful or useful, they are called information. Information provides context for data.

For example, a list of dates — data — is meaningless without the information that makes the dates relevant (dates of holiday).

"Data" and "information" are intricately tied together, whether one is recognizing them as two separate words or using them interchangeably, as is common today. Whether they are used interchangeably depends somewhat on the usage of "data" — its context and grammar.

Examples of Data and Information

  • The history of temperature readings all over the world for the past 100 years is data. If this data is organized and analyzed to find that global temperature is rising, then that is information.
  • The number of visitors to a website by country is an example of data. Finding out that traffic from the U.S. is increasing while that from Australia is decreasing is meaningful information.
  • Often data is required to back up a claim or conclusion (information) derived or deduced from it. For example, before a drug is approved by the FDA, the manufacturer must conduct clinical trials and present a lot of data to demonstrate that the drug is safe.

"Misleading" Data

Because data needs to be interpreted and analyzed, it is quite possible — indeed, very probable — that it will be interpreted incorrectly. When this leads to erroneous conclusions, it is said that the data are misleading. Often this is the result of incomplete data or a lack of context. For example, your investment in a mutual fund may be up by 5% and you may conclude that the fund managers are doing a great job. However, this could be misleading if the major stock market indices are up by 12%. In this case, the fund has underperformed the market significantly.

Video Explaining the Differences

Etymology

"Data" comes from a singular Latin word, datum, which originally meant "something given." Its early usage dates back to the 1600s. Over time "data" has become the plural of datum.

"Information" is an older word that dates back to the 1300s and has Old French and Middle English origins. It has always referred to "the act of informing," usually in regard to education, instruction, or other knowledge communication.

Grammar and Usage

While "information" is a mass or uncountable noun that takes a singular verb, "data" is technically a plural noun that deserves a plural verb (e.g., The data are ready.). The singular form of "data" is datum — meaning "one fact" — a word which has mostly fallen out of common use but is still widely recognized by many style guides (e.g., The datum proves her point.).

In common usage that is less likely to recognize datum, "data" has become a mass noun in many cases and takes on a singular verb (e.g., The data is ready.). When this happens, it is very easy for "data" and "information" to be used interchangeably (e.g., The information is ready.).

What are the characteristics of data and information?

There are five traits that you'll find within data quality: accuracy, completeness, reliability, relevance, and timeliness – read on to learn more. Is the information correct in every detail? How comprehensive is the information? Does the information contradict other trusted resources?

What are the five differences between data and information?

Main Differences Between Data and Information Data is unorganized, while information is structured or organized. Information is an uncountable noun, while data is a mass noun. Data is not typically useful on its own, but information is. Data generally includes the raw forms of numbers, statements, and characters.