Data Definition and 998 Threads

Data are units of information, often numeric, that are collected through observation. In a more technical sense, data are a set of values of qualitative or quantitative variables about one or more persons or objects, while a datum (singular of data) is a single value of a single variable.Although the terms "data" and "information" are often used interchangeably, these terms have distinct meanings. In some popular publications, data are sometimes said to be transformed into information when they are viewed in context or in post-analysis. However, in academic treatments of the subject data are simply units of information. Data are used in scientific research, businesses management (e.g., sales data, revenue, profits, stock price), finance, governance (e.g., crime rates, unemployment rates, literacy rates), and in virtually every other form of human organizational activity (e.g., censuses of the number of homeless people by non-profit organizations).
Data are measured, collected and reported, and analyzed, and from data visualizations such as graphs, tables or images are produced. Data as a general concept refers to the fact that some existing information or knowledge is represented or coded in some form suitable for better usage or processing. Raw data ("unprocessed data") is a collection of numbers or characters before it has been "cleaned" and corrected by researchers. Raw data needs to be corrected to remove outliers or obvious instrument or data entry errors (e.g., a thermometer reading from an outdoor Arctic location recording a tropical temperature). Data processing commonly occurs by stages, and the "processed data" from one stage may be considered the "raw data" of the next stage. Field data is raw data that is collected in an uncontrolled "in situ" environment. Experimental data is data that is generated within the context of a scientific investigation by observation and recording.
Data has been described as the new oil of the digital economy.

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  1. R

    Help interpreting processed data (and their transforms)

    Hi, so I have the spatial distributions of detected hits in figure 1. When plotting fig 1 as a regular scatter plot I thought I could discern some sort of pattern. So I got the idea of taking its Fourier transform and to see the result of the analysis. I am not very well acquainted with the...
  2. M

    Data structure and algorithms time computation?

    Assume the following set of instructions: 1. i = 0 2. if i < n, goto line 6 3. if A [ i ] = = x, goto line 7 4. i++ 5. goto line 2 6. return false 7. return true Assume that line i take Ci time, where Ci is a constant. The worst case total time of running this block of code can be calculated...
  3. websterling

    LIGO GW150914 Data Release & Tutorial

    https://losc.ligo.org/events/GW150914/']The[/PLAIN] LIGO Open Science Center has released data from the gravitational wave detection along with a tutorial going through some typical signal processing tasks on strain time-series data associated with it. GW150914 Data Release From the tutorial...
  4. N

    Convert data from weird to regular data

    Dear Group, I have a 30_sec_data.txt with weird characters in it and data.txt with nice numeric in it, Any one have any ideal to help me convert data from weird to regular data using Matlab. Thank you, Best regard,
  5. F

    SONET protocol for data transmission over fiber optics

    hello forum, I have read about SONET which seems to be a physical layer protocol to transport data over fiber optics. SONET is a TDM (time division multiplexing method). TDM means that that time divided into slots and shared between different users. For example, given three users A, B and C...
  6. W

    Big Data and RDBS (Relational DB). Do They Fit?

    Hi All, I am having trouble seeing how Relational Databases (RDBS) can be used in the world of big data. The inflow of data seems to be way too fast for the database to reflect what is going on at a given moment. I understand this issue is supposed to be addressed by data warehouses. Is...
  7. G

    Discover Visible Wavelengths for Neon Spectrum | Resources & Links Included

    I need a list of neon visible wavelengths. I wonder if any of you know of any good resources. I've tried searching but sometimes I get too many numbers. I also need to link each number with the spectrum colour chart, but so far I can't find anything like that. cos I don't want just want an...
  8. R

    Data from pulsars - light curves?

    Hi everybody, I hope some of you have worked with pulsars before or other x-ray data from NASA Heasarc. I need some data showing a very precise light curve of the crab pulsar and some other pulsar. It should be something like this: http://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/eso9948i.jpg Where the time...
  9. B

    Non-uniformly sampled transfer function data

    I have non-uniformly sampled transfer function data (magnitude only) in the range of 100kHz and 200MHz. Using this transfer function, I would like to calculate output from specific input. Question : To obtain phase of the transfer function from the magnitude data, I am trying to use Hilbert...
  10. M

    How to Export Data From an App & Display It on a Website

    Hello, Beginner here so take it easy. I am building a basic hybrid-platform app using Smartface (a similar platform to Phongap). For purposes of this discussion, the app will do something very basic: you click the start button and it will start counting down from 30 minutes to 0, and when you...
  11. ZahraKad

    Physics or Data Science? Background in physics & psychology

    Hello Everybody! At this point of my life, I'm facing a dilemma which might seem a bit unconventional, or even strange: Should I apply to Data Science Master's programs or Physics Master's programs? I'm in a state of constant confusion and can't make my mind to pick one of these paths. Any...
  12. Y

    Fitting data to complicated model

    1) For standard non-linear least squares, the standard approaches are to either a) to use the jacobian to linearize, and proceed with linear regression, or to b) linearize the raw data 2) When data needs to be "fit" to a complicated model (e.g. some non-linear differential equation) that...
  13. T

    How do I calculate the error of my data?

    Hello.I have 3 repitions of an experiment. The data consists of mass flow rates vs. time. What I want to do is to calculate the mass vs. time, i.e. integrating my data. I consider the resolution for each measurement to be exactly 3 minutes. To calculate the area I use the trapetzoid rule, i.e...
  14. S

    Excel spreadsheet that prevents using data

    Hey all, pretty easy question. Received a request that we are obligated to uphold regarding our purchasing information. We must provide the information in a concise format (pff). Here's the issue. They are going to use it to sell marketing information and we don't like the idea of them making...
  15. Y

    Does Data in Informatics TRULY Have Temperature?

    http://arxiv.org/ftp/cs/papers/0701/0701016.pdf The above is link of Kafri's paper I was just studying at high school when I found this theoretical scientific discovery proposed by an enough notable Israeli physicist Oded Kafri. He made a unique unification or link between second law of...
  16. G

    C: How to allocate memory for char*** data type

    I have an array of n strings (with blank spaces). Data type of an array is char***. How to allocate memory for char*** data type?
  17. F

    C Data Types: Are int x=3 & float y=3.0 Equal?

    Hello everyone! In C language,does two different variables with different data types but equal values equate each other? For example,are these two statements equal: int x=3; float y=3.0; ? thanks in advance..
  18. O

    Free Software for Visualizing Data

    I just graduated, and one of my last classes in school was computational physics. We would write programs using C++ to simulate all sorts of physical situations, write a bunch of data to a text file, and then import that data into Mathematica, where we would use the data to create graphs...
  19. Semidevilz

    Determine and filter Credibility of data

    I'm doing some work and don't really know if there is a better way to proceed. I have vendor information of how much premium they bring in, and how much losses they incur. With those 2 figures, I can get a 'loss ratio' of each vendor. My job is to look through the list and Identify any...
  20. G

    Data structures and algorithms: Priority queue as Binary Tree

    Homework Statement Explain and compare two efficient implementations of a priority queue using binary tree. Ilustrate this on an example of ascending priority queue that is created when elements 15, 38, 45, 21, 8, 55,20 are inserted and the two largest elements are deleted. Homework Equations...
  21. A

    Fortran Data acquisition using Fortran and RS232 Port

    I'm on Linux, and I want to treat the flow of data through the RS232 port, using the Fortran language , how can I do?
  22. F

    How can morphological data accurately represent evolution?

    I was reading through the answer key of question 3 in an AP Biology free response (found here: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap15_biology_sg.pdf ), and it had this question: "Identify whether morphological data or amino acid sequence data are more likely to...
  23. F

    High school teacher looking for data students can work with

    I will be working with a group of high school students on introductory modern physics. They've studied classical physics, chemistry and differential calculus. Some will be taking integral calculus concurrently. We work from Weidner and Sells Elementary Modern Physics. I do not see much I can do...
  24. G

    C: Sorting and searching data from separated files

    Homework Statement Write a program that reads data from binary file EMPLOYEE.DAT (employees are proffesors and teaching assistants, assume that the file exists). Split data about proffesors and teaching assistants in two separate text files and sort data by ID using insertion sort algorithm...
  25. S

    Statistics and Data Science applied to Physics

    I wasn't sure where to post this, but I figured this would be a topic under General Physics. I am aware that the next generation of observations, ranging from cosmological observations to post-LHC particle physics experiments, will produce overwhelmingly large and complex datasets, far larger...
  26. Dr. Strange

    Data for a test of the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation

    I would like to perform some modelling on spiral galaxies learning about the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relationship. Does anyone know of a catalog where I can find the maximum velocity (Vflat ) and radius (of Vflat ) of galaxies? (Yes, I know the Tully-Fisher relationship only relates tangential...
  27. J

    Engineering Biomedical Engineering PhD, data science, and Employment

    I have a B.S. in physics, I am currently in a non-thesis Master of Engineering in Mechanical/Biomedical engineering and set to graduate in the spring. I have been working in a lab to pick up some extra cash and skills over the past 7 months. Mainly what I have been doing is applying data science...
  28. Tone L

    Where Can I Find Physical Science Data Sets for Quick Statistical Analysis?

    Hello... I have a quick assignment for my statistics course, just calculate the mean, standard deviation etc.. We have our choice to calculate these statistics on any data set, anyone know of some cool physical science data, that would be quick to manipulate.. ASCII txt file please :D
  29. wololo

    Tree Data Structures & Minimax Algorithm for Games

    Homework Statement Homework Equations Tree data structures. I think it might also have something to do with minimax algorithm, but it was only mentioned once and never discussed extensively in class so I doubt it is required. The Attempt at a Solution [/B] If both players play as well as...
  30. DuckAmuck

    Online Sources for Kepler Exoplanet Data

    Does anyone know the best online source(s) for kepler exoplanet data? Thank you.
  31. U

    Background rejection / data analysis

    Hi, How can one calculate background rejection from a background sample applying cuts ??
  32. J

    Using accelerometer data to calculate distance

    I am looking for some help, or even advice as how to proceed. I am trying to quantify an impulse from a hand (a high velocity low amplitude motion). In attempt to do that, I've tried attaching an accelerometer to my hand. My problem is, that the values I'd like to calculate as an objective...
  33. Alettix

    Estimation of data stored on a CD

    Hello! I would be very happy if you could lend me a helping hand with the following problem. :) 1. Homework Statement We know that a CD is read with a laser with a wavelenght of λ = 1 μm. a) Estimate the data stored on the CD. b) We know that the CD contains 80 minutes of sound. How fast is it...
  34. W

    How to add .ost, pst. files as data files for MS outlook 200

    I have several of the .ost and .pst data files that I am trying to make as mailboxes (with the inbox and other subs that I created) but when I try it says they are not personal folders. I had changed one pst to ost and it worked but not the others. I thought .pst was the right suffix for these...
  35. Steven Ellet

    Lookup Row 3 Column "amz" - Result Side by Side

    If I want to lookup row 3 column "amz" and the end result will be side by side, how do i do that Example: a=.4 m=.91 z=.22 input; amz output: .4.91.22
  36. Maria_Porto

    How do I calculate a "medium" jerk value of my motion data?

    I'm a psychologist and I'm currently studying physics but, because this is not my field of study, I'm having great difficulties. I am currently studying biological motion and I have to calculate the jerk of my 2D motion data and I don't even know where to start. My data is basically a bunch of...
  37. A

    Big Data in Physics: Quantum Mechanics/Particle Physics for Undergrads?

    I am an undergraduate physics major and I am taking a course on Big Data analytics. For the semester project, our professor has asked up to take up any field that interest us and do a project in that. I want to do something related to quantum mechanics or particle physics. Is that possible at my...
  38. A

    Which Value to Use: % Discrepancy or Standard Deviation?

    I did an experiment about interference of light when it passes two slits. I got datas and made chart, but I'm confused which result value I need to use whether % discrepancy or standard deviation. My data's & discrepancy is around 7, and difference between theoretical value and experiment value...
  39. L

    Reference Data Requirements: What Do I Need?”

    I am requarid to submit reference letter with complite reference data (of my recomendator) could you tell me what dose reference data means? Is it just list of publications of something else? o_O
  40. J

    Distribution of Non-Gaussian Data: Analysis & Presentation

    Any help would be much appreciated. The problem lies in the non-Gaussian distribution of the sample. If we take the entire data set of total fish catch, the skewness statistic equals 7.463 with a std. error of skewness of 0.39. Accordingly, the Z dist. (7.463/0.39)=19.14. Overall, the...
  41. C

    Mathematical Equation for my experimental data?

    Homework Statement Okay so we're testing the effects different types and number of layers can have the heat released through conduction. in our results we found that the heat released was reduced by 50% for 2 layers compared to 1 layer and that the heat released was reduced to 34% for 3 layers...
  42. P

    Using calibration data for a beam scale -- How to apply?

    Homework Statement I attached the full document, buy I just want to know about : "Using calibration procedure determine: a) Sensitivity (mV/gr) b) Overall instrument error (gr) c) Linearity error %FSO d) Hysteresis error %FSO e) Precision error %FSO" Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a...
  43. RJLiberator

    Strength/Weakness of Each Method to Collect Earth data

    Homework Statement Name a strength and weakness of each technique. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution The two techniques that I came up with are: Magnetic Line of Force in rocks to analyze land-based paleomagnetic data. Strength: Well, it's easy to collect. [need help here]...
  44. nomadreid

    "Cannot create Application Data Folder" (Skype debugging)

    In Skype, I am getting “Do you want to debug this webpage? This webpage contains errors that might prevent it from displaying or working correctly. If you are not testing this webpage, click No.” Then, I can click or not click "Use the built-in script debugger in Internet Explorer." (No...
  45. D

    Normalisation of Experimental Data

    Hi all, I am currently operating a piece of equipment that essentially collects particles and separates them based on their size. Essentially you have 8 stages, and each stage has a differing size of particles it collects. For example: Stage----Size of Particles (D) (um)-----Mass Collected (M)...
  46. A

    A Is Multiverse proven by Plank data?

    Hi guys, On Wikipedia I found this article: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/planck-univ...-holman-468831 The map showed anomalies that cosmologists believe could only have been caused by the gravitational pull of other universes outside our own. "These anomalies were caused by other universes...
  47. C

    C/C++ C++ Online Store Program (Private vs Public data)

    Write a C++ program based on the following scenario: You customer wants you to design and then build an online store: Abilities the customer wants in the system: Track products and related information. Track customers, especially what the customer owes Identify a product that will be for...
  48. ElijahRockers

    Joining together data from two different MRI protocols

    I should start by saying that, as a novice data analyst, I have very little experience with MRI physics, but I believe I understand the absolute fundamentals. Also, this post mostly concerns data analysis issues so might be better suited for some other signal processing forum, but I'm hoping...
  49. G

    Other C: Data structures and algorithms books of solved problems

    What books of solved problems (free in pdf) would you recommend for data structures and algorithms in C (linked lists, trees, sorting and searching algorithms, graphs, recursion, files)? Note: I am not looking for theoretical books, but books of solved problems. Thanks for replies.
  50. E

    Can someone help me to find some data?

    I didn't know where exactly should I post this kind of question :) I need to find experimental values of linear thermal expansion coefficients of copper at various temperatures (ranging 100-1500K); however, as much as I google it I only get coefficients at 20 degrees of celsius, or else there...
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