What is Knowledge?

Data, Information, and Knowledge

 Data: Unorganized and

unprocessed facts; static; a set
of discrete facts about events
 Information: Aggregation of
data that makes decision
making easier
 Knowledge is derived from
information in the same way
information is derived from
data; it is a person’s range of
information

Prof Elaine Ferneley

Some Examples

 Data represents a fact or statement of event without relation to other things.

 Ex: It is raining.

 Information embodies the understanding of a relationship of some sort,

possibly cause and effect.
 Ex: The temperature dropped 15 degrees and then it started raining.

 Knowledge represents a pattern that connects and generally provides a high

level of predictability as to what is described or what will happen next.
 Ex: If the humidity is very high and the temperature drops substantially the
atmospheres is often unlikely to be able to hold the moisture so it rains.

 Wisdom embodies more of an understanding of fundamental principles

embodied within the knowledge that are essentially the basis for the
knowledge being what it is. Wisdom is essentially systemic.
 Ex: It rains because it rains. And this encompasses an understanding of all the
interactions that happen between raining, evaporation, air currents, temperature
gradients, changes, and raining.

Prof Elaine Ferneley

The DIKW Pyramid

Prof Elaine Ferneley

A Sequential Process of Knowing

Understanding supports the transition from one stage to the next, it is not
a separate level in its own right
Prof Elaine Ferneley
Learning

Learning by experience: a
function of time and talent
Learning by example: more
efficient than learning by
experience
Learning by sharing,
education.
Learning by discovery: explore
a problem area.

Prof Elaine Ferneley

“We know more than we can tell.”

Knowledge is experience,
everything else is just
information.
-Albert Einstein

Prof Elaine Ferneley 7

Expertise, Experience & Understanding

Experience – rules of thumb:

What e.g. gardener might have
Understanding – general knowledge:
What a biology graduate might have
Expertise – E + U in harmony
What an expert has

Prof Elaine Ferneley

 Reasoning
and
Thinking
and
Generating Knowledge

Prof Elaine Ferneley

Expert’s Reasoning Methods

Reasoning by analogy:
relating one concept to
another
 Formal reasoning:
using deductive or
inductive methods (see
next slide)
 Case-based
reasoning: reasoning
from relevant past cases
Prof Elaine Ferneley
Deductive and inductive reasoning

 Deductive
reasoning: exact
reasoning. It deals
with exact facts and
exact conclusions
 Inductive reasoning:
reasoning from a set of
facts or individual cases
to a general
conclusion
Prof Elaine Ferneley
Though no one can go back and
make a brand new start, anyone
can start from now and make a
brand new ending.

Prof Elaine Ferneley

Tell me and I'll forget;
show me and I may
remember;
involve me and I'll
understand.

Chinese Proverb

Prof Elaine Ferneley

Tell me and I'll forget;
show me and I may
remember;
involve me and I'll
understand.

Chinese Proverb

Prof Elaine Ferneley

Every truth has four corners:
as a teacher I give you one
corner, and it is for you to find
the other three.

Confucius

Prof Elaine Ferneley