Data Management: Data Literacy (Definitions)

"Understanding what data mean, including how to read charts appropriately, draw correct conclusions from data and recognize when data are being used in misleading or inappropriate ways." (Jake R Carlson et al., "Determining Data Information Literacy Needs: A Study of Students and Research Faculty", 2011) [source]

"Data literacy is the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and apply data, in a critical manner." (Chantel Ridsdale et al, "Strategies and Best Practices for Data Literacy Education", [knowledge synthesis report] 2016) [source]

"The data-literate individual understands, explains, and documents the utility and limitations of data by becoming a critical consumer of data, controlling his/her personal data trail, finding meaning in data, and taking action based on data. The data-literate individual can identify, collect, evaluate, analyze, interpret, present, and protect data." (IBM, Building "Global Interest in Data Literacy: A Dialogue", [workshop report] 2016) [source]

"the ability to understand the principles behind learning from data, carry out basic data analyses, and critique the quality of claims made on the basis of data."  (David Spiegelhalter, "The Art of Statistics: Learning from Data", 2019)

"The ability to recognize, evaluate, work with, communicate, and apply data in the context of business priorities and outcomes." (Forrester)

"Data literacy is the ability to derive meaningful information from data, just as literacy in general is the ability to derive information from the written word." (Techtarget) [source]

"Data literacy is the ability to read, work with, analyze and communicate with data, building the skills to ask the right questions of data and machines to make decisions and communicate meaning to others. "(Qlik) [source]

"Data literacy is the ability to read, write and communicate data in context, with an understanding of the data sources and constructs, analytical methods and techniques applied, and the ability to describe the use case application and resulting business value or outcome." (Gartner)

"Data literacy is the ability to read, work with, analyze and communicate with data. It’s a skill that empowers all levels of workers to ask the right questions of data and machines, build knowledge, make decisions, and communicate meaning to others." (Sumo Logic) [source]

"Data literacy is the skill set of reading, communicating, and deriving meaningful information from data. Collecting the data is only the first step. The real value comes from being able to put the information in context and tell a story." (Sisense) [source]