Chapter 4: Data, information, knowledge and methodology

The chapter centres primarily on the nature of,and relationship between, data, information and knowledge. In particular it attempts to clear what some consider being muddy waters caused by a lack of clarity in their proprietary definitions. In this chapter one of our intentions is to make our own attempt at clarifying this.

Fundamental to any definition of data, information and knowledge and their relationship, is an understanding of where an “observer” and inquirer (who acquires data and acquires information) fits into this. To explore this we shall adopt some ideas relating to measurement explored by Frieden, and elaborated through the use of SVS. Distinction between phenomenal information and data information will also be made, adopting concepts from information theory. In the Information Systems field it is often found that there is a circular definition between data, information and knowledge, with data defined in terms of information, and information is defined in terms of knowledge. However, it is possible to define all three of these entities independently, while maintaining a relationship.