[Esip-preserve] Fwd: definition of 'data'.

[Joe Hourcle]

Now that I'm on the mailing list, here's what I sent Ruth yesterday.

-Joe

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Joe Hourcle <oneiros at grace.nascom.nasa.gov>
> Date: January 7, 2015 5:54:39 PM EST
> To: Ruth Duerr <rduerr at nsidc.org>
> Subject: definition of 'data'.
> 
> 
> I sent the request to join esip-preserve, but I don't know if someone has to manually approve it (like the ESSI list).
> 
> Anyway, here's the relevant section of the vocabulary that Todd King and I worked on ( http://virtualsolar.org/vocab ):
> 
> 
> 	What is ‘Data’?
> 
> 	There are a few different philosophies on the nature of data.  Both computer science and information science use the term data to describe a much broader concept than most scientists would qualify as data.  Even within the physical sciences, there is disagreement about if data comes only from observation or if the results from computer models are included.  To be as inclusive as possible, we will consider data to be any record which can be used to support a scientific argument, even if it may not be considered valid evidence in all disciplines.  In the social sciences, data may include survey responses, interviews and historical documents.
> 
> 
> 
> ... so basically, 'data' is just a role that (just about)? anything can have.
> 
> -Joe