Week 11

Lecture Summary:

This lecture was about Data, Information and Knowledge. Data can be defined as a fact. it must be unbiased, quantitative and representative. Data can either be sampled (eg-price, shares) or measured (eg-weather). Information can be defined as a collection of relating facts. It must inform, be relational and be meaningful. Information can either be historical (eg-almanacs). Knowledge can be defined as the range of what has been learned discovered or perceived (eg- white papers, press releases). It must show justification from the data and information and its origins should be clear. The following is the characteristics of these mediums:-

Data =

• Factual
• Non judgemental
• Transient
• No intrinsic meaning or value
• Non inferential

Information =

• Summary
• Relational
• Dimensional
• Permanent
• Has meaning

Knowledge =

• Judgemental
• Valuable
• Subjective
• Experimental
• Inferential

Tutorial Summary:

1. Research the terms data, information, knowledge and wisdom and record definitions for them.

I used the following website- http://www.dictionary.reference.com/

Data = Factual information, especially information organized for analysis or used to reason or make decisions.

Information = The act of informing or the condition of being informed

Knowledge = The fact or state of knowing, the perception of fact or truth or clear and certain mental apprehension. Knowledge can also be described as an awareness.

Wisdom = Having good judgment, or having the knowledge of what is true. Enlightenment and insight.

2. Use the drawing toolbar in MS Word to create a graphical representation of these terms

Screenshot of my representation:

By danijolly22 at 2008-05-27

3. How can the understanding of the relationship between data information and knowledge assist in your university study?

Using data, information and knowledge is a logical plan towards achieving successful university studies. Data is part of the research needed to be conducted in an assignment and needs to be extensive and thorough so that accurate facts are collected. The information part is planning the assignment. This area ensures that the data is meaningful for study. Information and data are can each prove the other one is factual. Knowledge is the understanding of all of the work that has been completed during the first two stages. This part is where summary's and viewpoints are made. The important linkages of these three terms in an assignment will assist in drawing up conclusions so a thorough understanding of the terms and relationships is needed, in order to do well at university.

4. List five organisations that collect information from their clients or the public. Why do they collect this information?

Doctors = To keep your health records to make sure you are not experiencing the same problems everycheckup, to know who you are, to know what medication you are on if you are on anything. These are just a few reasons they may keep your information.

CentreLink = To keep track of earnings and benefits paid so they know if people are receiving correct entitlements.

Banks = To keep track of peoples savings and loans. when applying for an account they must collect 100 points of ID to make sure youare who you say you are and not a scammer.

Universities = So they know how many students go to the university and to know who is doing course and to know what year they are in when they are doing there course and to make sure they pay their money for the course.

Car Sales Personnel = When asking information about a car they often take down your details so that they can contact you in the future if any deals or certain models are available. When buying a new car they record your phone number so that they can ring and remind you in six months time to come in for a service.

Reading Summary:

1. Systems Thinking

This can be found at the following URL - http://www.systems-thinking.org/dikw/dikw.htm

2. Otec

This can be found at the following URL - http://otec.uoregon.edu/data-wisdom.htm