# data literacy

> ability to collect, manage, evaluate and apply data with critical thinking skills

**Wikidata**: [Q17067559](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17067559)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_literacy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/data-literacy

## Summary
Data literacy is the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and apply data with critical thinking skills. It is a fundamental competency in the modern information age, enabling individuals to make informed decisions based on data analysis. Data literacy is closely related to digital literacy and is considered a subclass of literacy in the context of data science.

## Key Facts
- Data literacy is defined as the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and apply data with critical thinking skills.
- It is classified as a subclass of both literacy and digital literacy.
- Data literacy is related to the field of data science, which focuses on extracting insights from data.
- The concept has aliases including "digital literacy" and "alfabetização de dados" (Portuguese).
- It is described in multiple languages including Arabic, Azerbaijani, Czech, German, English, Estonian, French, Igbo, Korean, and Dutch.
- Data literacy is documented in academic sources, including a 2018 publication on computational thinking and literacy.
- It is referenced in research discussing digital inclusion and data literacy in 2020.
- The concept is included in the Open Science Thesaurus as a described entity.
- Data literacy has a Wikidata description and is tracked with a sitelink count of 15.
- It is associated with a Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued) of 2778489303.

### Q: What is data literacy?
A: Data literacy is the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and apply data with critical thinking skills. It enables individuals to understand and work with data effectively in various contexts.

### Q: How is data literacy related to digital literacy?
A: Data literacy is considered a subclass of digital literacy, focusing specifically on the skills needed to work with data rather than digital technologies in general. Both concepts share the goal of enabling effective information use in the digital age.

### Q: Why is data literacy important in today's world?
A: Data literacy is crucial because we live in an increasingly data-driven society where decisions at personal, professional, and societal levels are often based on data analysis. It empowers individuals to critically evaluate information, make informed decisions, and participate meaningfully in data-centric discussions.

## Why It Matters
Data literacy matters because it serves as a foundational skill for navigating our increasingly data-driven world. In an era where data influences everything from business strategies to public policy, the ability to understand, interpret, and critically evaluate data has become essential for informed citizenship and professional success. Data literacy bridges the gap between raw data and meaningful insights, enabling individuals to transform numbers into actionable knowledge. It empowers people to question data sources, recognize patterns, identify biases, and draw valid conclusions - skills that are crucial for making sound decisions in both personal and professional contexts. As organizations across all sectors become more data-centric, data literacy is no longer just a technical skill for specialists but a fundamental competency for everyone, from students to executives. It also plays a vital role in promoting digital inclusion by ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds can participate meaningfully in our data-rich society, rather than being left behind by technological advancement.

## Notable For
- Being recognized as a distinct competency that combines technical data skills with critical thinking abilities
- Serving as a bridge between technical data science and general literacy concepts
- Having multiple language representations across major world languages
- Being formally classified in knowledge systems like Wikidata with specific relationships to literacy and digital literacy
- Being included in specialized knowledge resources like the Open Science Thesaurus

## Body
### Definition and Scope
Data literacy encompasses the comprehensive ability to work with data throughout its lifecycle - from collection and management to evaluation and application. Unlike basic computer literacy, data literacy specifically focuses on the analytical and critical thinking skills needed to derive meaning from data. This includes understanding data sources, recognizing data quality issues, applying appropriate analytical methods, and communicating findings effectively.

### Academic Context
The academic treatment of data literacy positions it within broader literacy frameworks while acknowledging its unique characteristics. Research from the University of California, Irvine in 2018 explored the relationship between computational thinking and data literacy, highlighting how these competencies intersect. More recent scholarship from 2020 examined data literacy in the context of digital inclusion, suggesting that data literacy has become a key component of full participation in digital society.

### Classification and Relationships
Data literacy is formally classified as a subclass of both general literacy and digital literacy in knowledge organization systems. This dual classification reflects its nature as both a fundamental skill (like reading and writing) and a digital-age competency. The concept is closely tied to data science as a field, though data literacy itself is more about the foundational skills that enable data science rather than the advanced technical practices of the field.

### Multilingual and Cross-Cultural Presence
The concept of data literacy exists across multiple languages and cultural contexts, with documented presence in at least ten languages including Arabic, Korean, French, and German. This multilingual representation suggests the universal recognition of data skills as increasingly important across different societies and educational systems.

### Knowledge Organization
Data literacy is formally tracked in knowledge organization systems with specific identifiers and relationships. It has a Wikidata description, is included in the Open Science Thesaurus, and maintains relationships with related concepts like digital literacy and data science. The concept's presence in these structured knowledge systems indicates its established status as a recognized area of competency.

## References

1. [Source](http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/TSO-V8JKF662-K)
2. Wikibase TDKIV