information

A meaningful collection of data as perceived by its user.

1. Any unit of data or knowledge.

2. The content of a message that serves to reduce uncertainty.

3. In the information processing model or theory of behaviour, the data to which a person reacts, and which precipitates behaviour in a particular situation. See also bit.

1. data which has intrinsic value.
2. changes occurring in central neurons as a result of stimuli received from sensory neurons. The signals received are coded, selected, with some being discarded and some stored, analyzed and compared with similar data stored in memory, after packing and merging.

• i. evaluation — an essential step to avoid unnecessary storage and the utilization of erroneous information in drawing conclusions. The rating will depend on whether the information is experimentally derived, obtained by clinical experience, or procedures in between. It is necessary in many situations to utilize information with a low rating because of a lack of availability of better information. There must necessarily be a lower level of certainty in the conclusions based on such material.