During data handling, recording data is an important process. Now, to record the data and interpret the information, it is important to use a suitable system to collect data. For example, while going on an outing, if your teacher wants to collect the data of the fruits required by each student, data must be recorded. If a list is prepared, it will be tedious for the teacher to count the number and types of fruits required. To solve this issue, four separate columns could be made, and records of different fruits and numbers of students can be mentioned in it.

In the earlier example, when the teacher recorded the data in the columns, it was a good method for the organisation of data. The number of students requiring specific fruit can be written in the tabular form, and hence the interpretation of the data becomes easier. For the organisation of the data, it is very important to use specific methods. This data can be organised in the tabular form using tally marks.

To collect the data, the teacher can draw the picture of the fruits, and the number of fruits can signify the amount required. When the data is recorded in the form of a picture of the object, it is termed a pictograph. A pictograph quickly answers the questions regarding data at a glance.

Drawing a Pictograph

While drawing a pictograph, the picture or symbol of the object must be clearly drawn, and the quantity must be mentioned. For example; the picture of one banana can represent its quantity as one or ten. This must be specified in the answer because it will be tedious to draw 10 or 20 bananas if the amount of data is more.

Interpretation of a Pictograph

After specifying the quantity represented by each picture, the interpretation of the pictograph becomes easier. If each picture represents a larger quantity, it must be mentioned. For example; if @ represents 20 people, it must be mentioned in the question.

Sometimes the representation of data in the form of a pictograph isn’t easy and convenient. Another way of visual representation of the data is by a bar graph that comprises uniform width bars. These bars can be either horizontal or vertical but must have equal spacing between them. The length of each bar is represented by the given number.

Drawing a Bar Graph

While drawing a bar graph, it is important to choose a scale for the graph. For example; 1 unit = 10 students. The scale helps to decide how many students will be represented by the unit length of a bar. Each bar is made by horizontal and vertical lines on horizontal lines representing different quantities. For example, different fruits required by the students can be represented by different bars. The numerals must be written on the vertical lines. 

Interpretation of a Bar Graph

By studying the bar graph’s scale and comparing it with the numerical on the horizontal line, the interpretation of a bar graph becomes easier. For example, when the teacher has to maintain the record of fruits and the total number of students, then the bars will represent each fruit, and on the vertical line, the number of students can be mentioned. Hence, the data can be collected.

We studied that there are many ways in which data handling is done to keep a fair record of the data and interpretation of the data. It is very important to have a proper collection method so that anyone can easily understand the data.

• What are the types of data handling?

Different types of data handling are bar graph, pictograph, line graph and histogram.

• What are the 5 types of data?

Different types of data are nominal data (gender, hair colour), ordinal data (letters), discrete data (number of students, number of workers), and continuous data (height of children, speed of the vehicle).

• What is the purpose of data handling?

The purpose of data handling is to get information from the data quickly in an organised manner.

• How can I learn data handling?

Data handling can be learned by collecting data, using certain data handling tools, and then the interpretation of the data.

• What is data and how many types of data?

Data is a collection or record to gain information. There are many types of data, including nominal data, ordinal data, discrete data, and continuous data.