The words Data and Information may look similar and many people use these words very frequently, But both have lots of differences between them.

what is data: Data are plain facts. The word "data" is plural for "datum." When data are processed, organized, structured or presented in a given context so as to make them useful, they are called Information.

It is not enough to have data (such as statistics on the economy). Data themselves are fairly useless, but when these data are interpreted and processed to determine its true meaning, they becomes useful and can be named as Information.

Information is data that has been processed in such a way as to be meaningful to the person who receives it. it is any thing that is communicated.

 

Data is the term, that may be new to beginners, but it is very interesting and simple to understand. It can be anything like name of a person or a place or a number etc. Data is the name given to basic facts and entities such as names and numbers. The main examples of data are weights, prices, costs, numbers of items sold, employee names, product names, addresses, tax codes, registration marks etc.

 

Data is the raw material that can be processed by any computing machine. Data can be represented in the form of:

 

Numbers and words which can be stored in computer's language

 

Images, sounds, multimedia and animated data as shown.

                           

DATA

Data is the collection of raw facts and figures. It is without any proper meaning.Data may be collection of words, numbers, graphics or sounds. Examples of Data

1) Student Data on Admission Forms When students get admission in a college. They fill admission form. This form     contains raw facts (data of student) like name, father’s name, address of student etc.

2)    Data of CitizensDuring census, data of all citizens is collected.

3)    Survey DataDifferent companies collect data by survey to know the opinion of people about their product.

4)    Students Examination dataIn examination data about obtained marks of different subjects for all students is collected.   

Data could be any thing any number, word or any character. This is also called raw data when this data is used to present in a specific way in order to describe the qualities of any thing it is called the systematic data. The data could be the number of people living in a society it is called the data of the people of a certain society so this is called the finished data which is more meaningful as compared to the raw data. The raw data is used for further processing. Any thing which is combination of the words is called the data. There are different kinds of the data which are available for the people and they use it for the different purposes.

So the data serves the different purpose sometime the data is used for the research of the specific company or it may be used as the input for the research and development. Any thing whether it is number, letter, and figures can be the form of the data. The data is used for the various purposes. Data is collected for different purposes it may be for the research as a input for any company. It is the broad term which is used for different purposes. - See more at: http://forfreeeducation.blogspot.com/2011/08/define-data-and-information-with.html#sthash.7FkiTLt6.dpuf

Information: Information is data that has been converted into a more useful or intelligible form. It is the set of data that has been organized for direct utilization of mankind, as information helps human beings in their decision making process. Examples are: Time Table, Merit List, Report card, Headed tables, printed documents, pay slips, receipts, reports etc. The information is obtained by assembling items of data into a meaningful form. For example, marks obtained by students and their roll numbers form data, the report card/sheet is the .information. Other forms of information are pay-slips, schedules, reports, worksheet, bar charts, invoices and account returns etc. It may be noted that information may further be processed and/or manipulated to form knowledge. Information containing wisdom is known as knowledge.

Best Answer: The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data (plural of "datum") are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which information and then knowledge are derived. Raw data, i.e. unprocessed data, refers to a collection of numbers, characters, images or other outputs from devices that collect information to convert physical quantities into symbols.

Meaning of data, information and knowledge

Data, information and knowledge are closely related terms, but each has its own role in relation to the other. Data is collected and analyzed to create information suitable for making decisions,[3]

while knowledge is derived from extensive amounts of experience dealing with information on a subject. For example, the height of Mt. Everest is generally considered data. This data may be included in a book along with other data on Mt. Everest to describe the mountain in a manner useful for those who wish to make a decision about the best method to climb it. Using an understanding based on experience climbing mountains to advise persons on the way to reach Mt. Everest's peak may be seen as "knowledge".

That is to say, data is the least abstract, information the next least, and knowledge the most.[4] Data becomes information by interpretation; e.g., the height of Mt. Everest is generally considered "data", a book on Mt. Everest geological characteristics may be considered

"information", and a report containing practical information on the best way to reach Mt. Everest's peak may be considered "knowledge".

'Information' bears a diversity of meanings that ranges from everyday to technical. Generally speaking, the concept of information is closely related to notions of constraint, communication, control, data, form, instruction, knowledge, meaning, mental stimulus, pattern, perception, and representation.

Beynon-Davies uses the concept of a sign to distinguish between data and information; data is a series of symbols, while information occurs when the symbols are used to refer to something.[5][6]

It is people and computers who collect data and impose patterns on it. These patterns are seen as information which can be used to enhance knowledge. These patterns can be interpreted as truth, and are authorized as aesthetic and ethical criteria. Events that leave behind perceivable physical or virtual remains can be traced back through data. Marks are no longer considered data once the link between the mark and observation is broken.[7]

Mechanical computing devices are classified according to the means by which they represent data. An analog computer represents a datum as a voltage, distance, position, or other physical quantity. A digital computer represents a piece of data as a sequence of symbols drawn from a fixed alphabet. The most common digital computers use a binary alphabet, that is, an alphabet of two characters, typically denoted "0" and "1". More familiar representations, such as numbers or letters, are then constructed from the binary alphabet.

Some special forms of data are distinguished. A computer program is a collection of data, which can be interpreted as instructions. Most computer languages make a distinction between programs and the other data on which programs operate, but in some languages, notably Lisp and similar languages, programs are essentially indistinguishable from other data. It is also useful to distinguish metadata, that is, a description of other data. A similar yet earlier term for metadata is "ancillary data." The prototypical example of metadata is the library catalog, which is a description of the contents of books.

Types of Data: Primary and Secondary dataPosted on January 7, 2013

There are many ways of classifying data.

A common classification is based upon who collected the data.

Primary data: Data collected by the investigator himself/ herself for a specific purpose.

Examples: Data collected by a student for his/her thesis or research project.

(In movies) The hero is directly told by the heroine that he is her “ideal man”.

Secondary data: Data collected by someone else for some other purpose (but being utilized by the investigator for another purpose).

Examples: Census data being used to analyze the impact of education on career choice and earning.

(In movies) The hero reads a fictional account of the heroine’s “ideal man” (written for a course in English composition) that seems to describe him accurately. He seeks confirmation from his friends, concluding that he is her “ideal man”. (He never asks her directly, but assumes the “facts” are correct).

Some Advantages of using Primary data:

1. The investigator collects data specific to the problem under study.2. There is no doubt about the quality of the data collected (for the investigator).3. If required, it may be possible to obtain additional data during the study period.

Some Disadvantages of using Primary data (for reluctant/ uninterested investigators):

1. The investigator has to contend with all the hassles of data collection-

deciding why, what, how, when to collect getting the data collected (personally or through others) getting funding and dealing with funding agencies ethical considerations (consent, permissions, etc.)

2.   Ensuring the data collected is of a high standard-

all desired data is obtained accurately, and in the format it is required in there is no fake/ cooked up data unnecessary/ useless data has not been included

3.   Cost of obtaining the data is often the major expense in studies

Some Advantages of using Secondary data:

1. The data’s already there- no hassles of data collection2. It is less expensive3. The investigator is not personally responsible for the quality of data (“I didn’t do it”)

Some disadvantages of using Secondary data:

1. The investigator cannot decide what is collected (if specific data about something is required, for instance).

2. One can only hope that the data is of good quality

3. Obtaining additional data (or even clarification) about something is not possible (most often)

Using primary data

An advantage of using primary data is that researchers are collecting information for the specific purposes of their study. In essence, the questions the researchers ask are tailored to elicit the data that will help them with their study. Researchers collect the data themselves, using surveys, interviews and direct observations (such as observing safety practices on a shop floor).

Let’s take an example. In a recent Institute study, researchers wanted to find out about workers’ experiences in return to work after a work-related injury. Part of the research involved interviewing workers by telephone and asking them questions about how long they were off work and about their experiences with the return-to-work process.

The workers’ answers are considered primary data. From this, the researchers got answers to specific information about the return-to-work process including the rates of work accommodation offers, and why some workers refused such an offer.

Using secondary data

There are several types of secondary data. They can include information from the Census, a company’s health and safety records such as their injury rates, or other government statistical information such as the number of workers in different sectors across Canada.

Secondary data tends to be readily available and inexpensive to obtain. In addition, secondary data can be examined over a longer period of time. For example, you can look at a company’s lost-time rates over several years to see at trends.

In the same Institute study mentioned above, the researchers also examined secondary data. They looked at workers’ compensation lost-time claims and the amount of time workers were receiving wage replacement benefits.

With a combination of these two data sources, the researchers were able to determine which factors predicted a shorter work absence among injured workers. This information was shared with return-to-work professionals to help improve return to work for other injured workers.

Both primary data and secondary data have their pros and cons. Primary data offers tailored information but tends to be expensive to conduct and takes a long time to process. Secondary data is usually inexpensive to obtain and can be analyzed in less time. However, because it was gathered for other purposes, you may need to tease out the information to find what you’re looking for.

The type of data researchers choose can depend on many things including the research question, their budget, their skills and available resources. Based on these and other factors, they may choose to use primary data, secondary data - or both

Primary and secondary data fall within the scope of statistics and can be used as part of a research method. The collected data may assist a company in measuring, assessing and discussing the results of data collection for whatever purposes the information is required. This is where the differences between the two become relevant as some companies need a direct approach and therefore use primary data sources whereas others need previously collected information - that is, secondary data - which they can apply to their own situation.  

Primary data can be explained, therefore, as information collected from sources such as personal interviews, questionnaires or surveys with a specific intention and on a specific subject, and observation and discussion by the researcher him or herself, which information is then assessed by that person. It is a direct approach and, as it is tailored to a company's particular needs, reveals apparently, much-needed information to that company which started the research;that is, the results are used for the purpose for which they were originally intended. It can be a lengthy process but does provide first-hand information.

Secondary data is information that is already available somewhere, whether it be in journals, on the internet, in a company's records or, on a larger scale, in corporate or governmental archives. Secondary data allows for comparison of, say, several years worth of statistical information relating to, for example, a sector of the economy, where the information may be used to measure the effects of change or whatever it is that is being researched.  

Sometimes both methods are used in research as companies want to measure their own responses and previously-generated responses from which a comparison can be made.

Sources:

http://www.enotes.com/research-starters/statistics-data-a...

thewanderlust878 | Student, College Freshman | TA | (Level 3) Salutatorian

Posted November 30, 2014 at 3:59 AM (Answer #2)

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Primary data:

Primary data are first hand informations. These informations are collected directly from the source by means of field studies. Primary data are original and are like raw materials. It is the most crude form of information. The investigator himself collects primary data or supervises its collection. It may be collected on a sample or census basis or from case studies.

Secondary data:

Secondary data are the Second hand informations. The data which have already been collected and processed by some agency or persons and are not used for the first time are termed as secondary data. According to M. M. Blair, “Secondary data are those already in existence and which have been collected for some other purpose.” Secondary data may be abstracted from existing records, published sources or unpublished sources.

The distinction between primary and secondary data is a matter of degree only. The data which are primary in the hands of one become secondary for all others. Generally the data are primary to the source who collects and processes them for the first time. It becomes secondary for all other sources, who use them later. For example, the population census report is primary for the Registrar General of India and the information from the report are secondary for all of us.

Hope this helps!

malkaam | Student, Undergraduate | TA | (Level 1) Valedictorian

Posted December 3, 2014 at 11:26 AM (Answer #3)

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PRIMARY DATA:

It can also be known as first hand or un-organized data, it is the one which is in an un-polished form, for example notes taken at an interview by a journalist or surveys.

SECONDARY DATA:

It is the opposite of primary data, and can also be called second hand data, also this type of data is in a polished form. Examples are census, newspapers etc. 

sid-sarfraz | Student, Graduate | (Level 2) Salutatorian

Posted December 10, 2014 at 9:29 AM (Answer #4)

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DATA

Data is the collections of facts and figures in raw form.

PRIMARY DATA

Data collected first hand in raw form. Data that is collected for a specific purpose. Basically data collected in raw form directly from a source for a specific purpose, is referred to as primary data.

Examples include:-

Jotting down important points during a lecture Interviewing Making your own questionnaire

SECONDARY DATA

Data collected from sources that have already collected it. Basically it is second hand or re-used data that is collected from primary day. 

Examples include:-

Data collection from books Newspaper

Primary Research - Disadvantages

While primary data collection is a powerful method for acquiring information, it does pose several significant problems including:

Cost

Compared to secondary research, primary data may be very expensive since there is a great deal of marketer involvement and the expense in preparing and carrying out research can be high.

Time Consuming

To be done correctly primary data collection requires the development and execution of a research plan. Going from the start-point of deciding to undertake a research project to the end-point to having results is often much longer than the time it takes to acquire secondary data.

Not Always Feasible

Some research projects, while potentially offering information that could prove quite valuable, are not within the reach of a marketer. Many are just too large to be carried out by all but the largest companies and some are not feasible at all. For instance, it would not be practical for McDonalds to attempt to interview every customer who visits their stores on a certain day since doing so would require hiring a huge number of researchers, an unrealistic expense. Fortunately,

as we will see in a later tutorial there are ways for McDonalds to use other methods (e.g., sampling) to meet their needs without the need to talk with all customers.

Primary Research - Advantages

Marketers often turn to primary data collection because of the benefits it offers including:

Addresses Specific Research Issues

Carrying out their own research allows the marketing organization to address issues specific to their own situation. Primary research is designed to collect the information the marketer wants to know (Step 2) and report it in ways that benefit the marketer. For example, while information reported with secondary research may not fit the marketer’s needs (e.g., different age groupings) no such problem exists with primary research since the marketer controls the research design.

Greater Control

Not only does primary research enable the marketer to focus on specific issues, it also enables the marketer to have a higher level of control over how the information is collected. In this way the marketer can decide on such issues as size of project (e.g., how many responses), location of research (e.g., geographic area) and time frame for completing the project.

Efficient Spending for Information

Unlike secondary research where the marketer may spend for information that is not needed, primary data collections’ focus on issues specific to the researcher improves the chances that research funds will be spent efficiently.

Proprietary Information

Information collected by the marketer using primary research is their own and is generally not shared with others. Thus, information can be kept hidden from competitors and potentially offer an “information advantage” to the company that undertook the primary research.

Advantages of Primary Market Research

1) Targeted Issues are addressed. The organization asking for the research has the complete control on the process and the research is streamlines as far as its objectives and scope is concerned. Researching company can be asked to concentrate their efforts to find data regarding specific market rather than concentration on mass market.

2) Data interpretation is better. The collected data can be examined and interpreted by the marketers

depending on their needs rather than relying on the interpretation made by collectors of secondary data.

3) Recency of Data. Usually secondary data is not so recent and it may not be specific to the place or situation marketer is targeting. The researcher can use the irrelevant seeming information for knowing trends or may be able to find some relation with the current scenario. Thus primary data becomes a more accurate tool since we can use data which is useful for us.

4) Proprietary Issues. Collector of primary data is the owner of that information and he need not share it with other companies and competitors. This gives an edge over competitors replying on secondary data.

Primary Research - Advantages

Marketers often turn to primary data collection because of the benefits it offers including:

Addresses Specific Research Issues

Carrying out their own research allows the marketing organization to address issues specific to their own situation. Primary research is designed to collect the information the marketer wants to know (Step 2) and report it in ways that benefit the marketer. For example, while information reported with secondary research may not fit the marketer’s needs (e.g., different age groupings) no such problem exists with primary research since the marketer controls the research design.

Greater Control

Not only does primary research enable the marketer to focus on specific issues, it also enables the marketer to have a higher level of control over how the information is collected. In this way the marketer can decide on such issues as size of project (e.g., how many responses), location of research (e.g., geographic area) and time frame for completing the project.

Efficient Spending for Information

Unlike secondary research where the marketer may spend for information that is not needed, primary data collections’ focus on issues specific to the researcher improves the chances that research funds will be spent efficiently.

Proprietary Information

Information collected by the marketer using primary research is their own and is generally not shared with others. Thus, information can be kept hidden from competitors and potentially offer an “information advantage” to the company that undertook the primary research

Disadvantages of Primary Market Research

1) High Cost. Collecting data using primary research is a costly proposition as marketer has to be involved throughout and has to design everything.

2) Time Consuming. Because of exhaustive nature of the exercise, the time required to do research accurately is very long as compared to secondary data, which can be collected in much lesser time duration.

3) Inaccurate Feed-backs. In case the research involves taking feedbacks from the targeted audience, there are high chances that feedback given is not correct. Feedbacks by their basic nature are usually biased or given just for the sake of it.

4) More number of resources are required. Leaving aside cost and time, other resources like human resources and materials too are needed in larger quantity to do surveys and data collection.

Primary data is collected via methods such as surveys, questionnaires and interviews and it comes with a variety of advantages and disadvantages.

One of the main advantages of collecting primary data is the amount of control the researchers have. This allows them to determine the type of method they will use in collecting the data and how long it will take them to get the data, thus enabling them to focus on specific aspects of their research

The other main advantage is the fact that a primary data collection focuses on the specific issues, unlike secondary data which may contain details that are not needed by the researcher. This means that the researchers will only set out to find more information about specific issues that matters to the; what’s more they have different methodologies to use, ranging from focus groups to email.

The best thing about using primary collection methods is the researchers will be presented with original and unbiased data.  Unlike the secondary collection methods, the researchers will directly interact with the source of information and get the data that is original and not analysed to suit specific premises.

One disadvantage of primary data collection is that it consumes a lot of time. The researchers will need to make certain preparations in order to handle the different demands of the processes and at the same time, manage time effectively.

Besides time consumption, the researchers will collect large volumes of data when they collect primary data. Since they will interact with different people, they will end up with large volumes of data, which they will need to go through when analyzing and evaluating their findings.

With these advantages and disadvantages in mind, primary data collection is a popular choice for many people because it is reliable and focused on specific areas of interest, making it easy for the users to control the type of data they collect.

Introduction Secondary research can be described as the most widely used method for data collection. This process involves accessing information that is already gathered from either the originator or a distributor of primary research. Secondary research includes collecting information from third-party sources such as company websites, sales and accounting records, magazine articles and marketing research reports. It also includes any previously gathered information used by the marketer from any internal or external source.

Advantages:

Ease of AccessThere are many advantages to using secondary research. This includes the relative ease of access to many sources of secondary data. In the past secondary data accumulation required marketers to visit libraries, or wait for reports to be shipped by mail. Now with the availability of online access, secondary research is more openly accessed. This offers convenience and generally standardized usage methods for all sources of secondary research.

Low Cost to AcquireThe use of secondary data has allowed researchers access to valuable information for little or no cost to acquire. Therefore, this information is much less expensive then if the researchers had to carry out the research themselves.

Clarification of Research QuestionThe use of secondary research may help the researcher to clarify the research question. Secondary research is often used prior to primary research to help clarify the research focus.

May Answer Research QuestionThe use of secondary data collection is often used to help align the focus of large scale primary research. When focusing on secondary research, the researcher may realize that the exact information they were looking to uncover is already available through secondary sources. This would effectively eliminate the

need and expense to carry out there own primary research.

May Show Difficulties in Conducting Primary ResearchIn many cases, the originators of secondary research include details of how the information was collected. This may include information detailing the procedures used in data collection and difficulties encountered in conducting the primary research. Therefore, the detailed difficulties may persuade the researcher to decide that the potential information obtained is not worth the potential difficulties in conducting the research.

Disadvantages:

Quality of ResearchThere are some disadvantages to using secondary research. The originators of the primary research are largely self-governed and controlled by the marketer. Therefore, the secondary research used must be scrutinized closely since the origins of the information may be questionable. Moreover, the researcher needs to take sufficient steps to critically evaluate the validity and reliability of the information provided.

Not Specific to Researcher’s NeedsIn many cases, secondary data is not presented in a form that exactly meets the researcher’s needs. Therefore, the researcher needs to rely on secondary data that is presented and classified in a way that is similar to their needs.

Incomplete InformationIn many cases, researchers find information that appears valuable and promising. The researcher may not get the full version of the research to gain the full value of the study. This is because many research suppliers offer free portions of their research and then charge expensive fees for their full reports.

Not TimelyWhen using secondary research, one must exercise caution when using dated information from the past. With companies competing in fast changing industries, an out-of-date research reports many have little or no relevance to the current market situation.

ConclusionIn conclusion, the use of secondary research offers many significant advantages to the researcher. It is important for the researcher to identify, reduce, and manage the disadvantages that are accompanied by the use of secondary research. Advantages and disadvantages of secondary data collection nowadays

Advantages

1. The first advantage of using secondary data (SD) has always been the saving of time (Ghauri, 2005). Not enough with this, in the so called Internet Era, this fact is more than evident. In the past, secondary data collection used to require many hours of tracking on the long libraries corridors. New technology has revolutionized this world. The process has been simplified. Precise information may be obtained via search engines. All worth library has digitized its collection so that students and researchers may perform more advance searches.

2. Accessibility. In the past, SD was often confined to libraries or particular institutions. Top of that, not always general public gained access. Internet has especially been revolutionary in this sense. Having a internet connection is frequently the only requirement to access. A simple click is sometimes more than enough to obtain vast amount of information. The problem, nevertheless, is now being able to see whether the data is valid.

3. Strongly connected to the previous advantages is the saving of money (Ghauri, 2005). In general, it is much less expensive than other ways of collecting data. One may analyzed larger data sets like those collected by government surveys with no additional cost.

4. Feasibility of both longitudinal and international comparative studies. Continuous or regular surveys such as government censuses or official registers are especially good for such research purposes. The fact of being performed on a regular or continuous basis allow researchers to analyze the evolution of, to give an example, per capita income in Poland from 2000 to 2012. Something similar occurs when comparing different countries. Although important difference between countries may exist, the truth is that censuses and other government studies tend to unify criteria all over the world or, at least, within certain geographical areas, such as European Union, or among certain international organizations members, such as OECD. Another example are the studies carry out by international networks that aims to collect information world-widely following the same criteria. The World Values Survey is a good example. It is a source of empirical data on attitudes covering a majority of the world´s population (nearly 90%) It is carried out by a worldwide network of social scientist who, since 1981, have conducted representative national surveys in almost 100 countries. Aiming such data for international or longitudinal studies via primary data collection is truly difficult and often miss the rigor that diverse social contexts comparisons require.

5. Generating new insights from previous analyses (Fàbregues, 2013). Reanalyzing data can also lead to unexpected new discoveries. Returning to the previous example, the World Values Survey Association usually publish the so called World Values Survey Books. They are a collection of publications based on data from the World Values Surveys. Since the database used may be accessible for outsider, you can analyze the data and come up with new relevant conclusions or simply verify and confirm previous results.

Disadvantages

1. Inappropriateness of the data. Data collected by oneself (primary data) is collected with a concrete idea in mind. Usually to answer a research question or just meet certain objectives.  In this sense, secondary data sources may provide you with vast amount of information, but quantity is not synonymous of appropriateness. This is simply because it has been collected to

answer a different research question or objectives. (Denscombe, 2007). The inappropriateness may be, for instance, because of the data was collected many years ago, the information refers to a entire country when one aims to study a specific region, or the opposite, one aims to study an entire country but the information is given in a region wide. There are two possible ways to be taken when SD is not appropriate: 1) answering your research question partially with the subsequent lack of validity; 2) you need to find an alternative technique of data collection, such as survey or interviews.

2. Lack of control over data quality (Saunders, 2009). Government and other official institutions are often a guarantee of quality data, but it is not always the case. For this reason, quality issues must be verify as outlined in this post

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. Primary and Secondary Sources and Triangulation

Researchers need to consider the sources on which to base and confirm their research and findings. They have a choice between primary data and secondary sources and the use of both, which is termed triangulation, or dual methodology.

Primary data is the data collected by the researcher themselves, i.e.

1. interview2. observation3. action research4. case studies5. life histories6. questionnaires7. ethnographic research8. longitudinal studies

Secondary sources are data that already exists

1. Previous research2. Official statistics3. Mass media products4. Diaries5. Letters6. Government reports7. Web information

8. Historical data and information