INFS 112

Introduction to Information
Management
Session 1 – Types of Information

College of Education
Department of Information Studies
2016/2017
 Overview
• Forms of information

• Types of information

• Sources of information

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FORMS OF INFORMATION
 Overview
Forms of information include:
• Internal and external
• Electronic, hard copy (paper-based) and spoken
• Formal/Informal
• Quantitative and Qualitative.

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 Internal Information
• Internal
– Information generated inside the organisation
• Computer systems (human resource, accounting,
clients, inventory, purchasing)
• Staff records
• Accounting records
• Annual reports
• Long range planning records
• Company reports
• Business documents (letters, minutes of meetings)
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 External Information
• External
– Information generated outside the
organization
•Professional journals
•Books
•Surveys
•Industry or government reports

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 Formal Information
• Formal Information
– This is information that responds to a specific
defined form or format.
– It is presented in an organised and orderly
structure.
– The language of presentation is very official.
– Formal information can come from within or
outside the organisation

Department of Information Studies Slide 7

 Formal Information
• Some of the formal information sources you
might use every day include:
– newspapers or electronic newsfeeds
– magazine articles
– management reports
– staff disciplinary procedures
– videos of product presentations
– layouts, maps, blueprints.
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 Informal Information
• Informal
– It is the opposite of formal information.
– It is not in accordance with any laid down rules or
structures.
– It is not officially recognized or controlled.
– It is unceremonious or without formality.
– It may be spoken or written.
– It is casual and suited for everyday use.
– It is unofficial, free- style and-easy and includes slangs.

Department of Information Studies Slide 9

 Informal Information
• Examples include
– A chat or conversation
– Informal contacts with suppliers and customers.
– Information used in informal gathering of friends –
presented in a free-and-easy manner.
– Meeting with colleagues at conference, workshops
and seminars
– Friendly letters

Department of Information Studies Slide 10

 Differences between formal and informal
information
Formal Informal
1. Available to more than one 1. May be an interchange
person between just two people
2. Information captured has 2. The information is transient
been recorded in some way, – not stored or retrievable
so can be reused 3. The information is selected
3. Information used is selected by the provider
by the recipient –eg. You 4. Information is interactive
decide which newspaper
reports you are going to
read
4. Information tends to be
static

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 Electronic and hard copy (paper-based), and
spoken.
• Electronic
– The information collated or found in a database or
electronic format and the user can access the files for
better information as a basis for decision.
– The information could come from internal and external
sources to facilitate better decision making.
Examples
•websites, both Internet and Intranet
•video and multimedia products

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 Electronic and hard copy (paper-based), and
spoken.
• Manual/Paper Based Information
– The information collated or found in paper format or any
other format except electronic systems and the user can
access it for better information as a basis for decision.
– The information could come from internal and external
sources.

– Examples
• Annual reports
• Books

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 Qualitative and Quantitative
• Quantitative Information
– Information that can be measured or quantified.
– It is about quantities; that is, information that can
be measured and written down with numbers.
– It can be directly measured and can be seen as
factual information rather than opinion.
– Examples: height, shoe size, and the length of
your fingernails.

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 Qualitative and Quantitative
• Qualitative Information
– It is information about qualities; information
that can't actually be measured or
quantified.
– Its based on the quality of an item or object.
– Example the softness of your skin, and the
color of your eyes.

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TYPES OF INFORMATION
 Types of Information
• We need information for very specific
purposes

• WHY DO WE NEED INFORMATION?

• Types of information listed below will give us

useful framework for thinking about our
information needs:
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 Types of Information
1. News
2. Ideas and opinions
3. Research results
4. Theoretical analysis/theory
5. Everyday practicalities
6. Facts and figures
7. History or background
8. People's experience
9. Advice or help
10.Technical information
11.Legal information

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SOURCES OF INFORMATION
 Sources of Information
• Three main sources of information:
– Primary,
– Secondary,
– Tertiary

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 Information Sources
Primary Information Source
– Information that you collect yourself.
– Example, carrying out a survey or using sales
figures from your own cash registers.
– Mostly reliable and accurate
– Obtaining primary information is more
expensive as you need to collect, store and
analyse the information yourself.

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 Information Sources
Primary Information Source
– It provides direct or first hand information about an
event, person, object, or work of art.
– Primary sources are current to what they describe.

– Examples:
• Diaries, Experiments, Speeches, Personal
correspondences, Paintings, Interviews, Annual
reports of an organization or agency, Patents, Court
records
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 Information Sources
Secondary Information Sources
• Information already exist in some form
• They are produced at some point after a primary
information source appears.
• May have challenges with accuracy & reliability

• Examples:
– encyclopaedia, Textbooks, Biographies, Magazine articles,
Book reviews etc

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 Information Sources
Tertiary Information Sources
• They consist of information which is a distillation
and collection of primary and secondary
sources.
• They list, compiles, or indexes primary and
secondary information sources.
• These sources are most often used to look up
facts or to get a general idea about something.

Department of Information Studies Slide 24

 Information Sources
• examples of tertiary information sources.
– Almanacs, Handbooks, Statistics,
Chronologies; Dictionaries; Directories; Fact
books; Guidebooks; Indexes, abstracts,
bibliographies; Manuals; Textbooks/
Encyclopedias (also secondary).

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 Activities
• List eight information sources that you use on regular
basis

• Categorise them as formal or informal, internal or

external, electronic or hard copy

Department of Information Studies Slide 26