Knowledge: General Concepts


Procedural & Declarative Knowledge

Q. Explain briefly the difference between procedural & declarative knowledge. (June 99)
Ans. Procedural knowledge is compiled knowledge related to the performance of some task. For example, the steps used to solve an algebraic equation are expressed as procedural knowledge. Declarative knowledge, on the other hand, is passive knowledge expressed as statements of facts about the world. For example, personnel data in a database is a typical example of declarative knowledge. Such data are explicit pieces of independent knowledge.

Knowledge, Belief, Hypothesis, Data, and Information

Q. Explain the difference between 'knowledge', belief, 'hypothesis', 'data', and 'information' (June 99, Dec. 00, June 02)
Ans. Knowledge can be defined as the body of facts and principles accumulated by humankind or the act, fact, or state of knowing.
Belief: It is defined as essentially any meaningful and coherent expression that can be represented. Thus, a belief can be true or false.
Hypothesis: It is defined as justified belief that is not known to be true. Thus, a hypothesis is a belief that is backed up with some supporting evidence, but it may still be false. In other words, it is a preliminary assumption or tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts, taken to be true for the purpose of investigation and testing.
Data: Data in computer terminology mean raw facts and figures. For example 'Rocky', 197701, 'A' are data. Data are processed to form information.
Information: Data arranged in useful and meaningful form is known as information. For example 'Rocky, whose roll number is 197701, has got grade A' is an information as it is conveying some meaning.

 
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