Definitions of data:

1. Data can be the lowest level of abstraction. Data on its own carries no meaning but for data to become information, it must be interpreted (Wikipedia).

2. Data sets: Collection of data in tabular form. Ecologists’ basic measurements.

3. Data Products: Eg. NEON names 5 data product levels. These start at raw data (Level 0) and proceed to calibration (Level 1). There are optional steps for temporal (Level 2) and spatial (Level 3) rectification. Only the highest stages of processed data products (Level 4) (NEONinc.org).

4. Dartmouth college’s definition of data is: 

“Research data means recorded information, regardless of form or medium on which it may be recorded. The term includes computer software (computer programs, computer data bases, and documentation thereof), and data of a scientific or technical nature. Scientific data include, but are not limited to, material contained in laboratory notebooks or other media such as computer disks and machine printouts. Data includes statistics, findings, conclusions, notebooks, printouts, etc .”

Early studies and attempts at estimating how much data (all) is out there:

Lesk Study. 1997.
Lesk M. 2007. How Much Information Is There In the World? Retrieved from: http://www.lesk.com/mlesk/ksg97/ksg.html

Berkley Study: How Much Information? 2000
Lyman P, Varian H. 2000. How Much Information? School of Information Management and Systems. University of California, Berkeley.

Berkley Study: How Much Information? 2003
Lyman P, Varian H. 2003. How Much Information? School of Information Management and Systems. University of California, Berkeley.

IDC Study: The Expanding Digital Universe. 2007.
Gantz JF, Reinsel D, Chute C, Sclicthting W, McArthur J, Minton S, Xheneti I, Toncheva A, Manfrediz A. 2007. The Expanding Digital Universe: A Forecast of Worldwide Information Growth Through 2010. International Data Corporation. IDC White Paper sponsored by EMC.

IDC Study: The Diverse and Exploding Digital Universe. 2008.
Gantz JF, Chute C, Manfrediz A, Minton S, Reinsel D, Sclicthting W, Toncheva A. 2008. The Diverse and Exploding Digital Universe: An Updated Forecast of Worldwide Information Growth Through 2011. International Data Corporation. IDC White Paper sponsored by EMC.

IDC Study: As the Economy Contracts, the Digital Universe Expands. 2009.
Gantz JF,  Reinsel D. 2009. As the Economy Contracts, the Digital Universe Expands. International Data Corporation. IDC White Paper sponsored by EMC.

IDC Study: The Digital Universe Decade – Are You Ready? 2010.
Gantz JF,  Reinsel D. 2010. The Digital Universe Decade – Are You Ready? International Data Corporation. IDC White Paper sponsored by EMC.

UCSD Study: HMI. 2009.
Bohn RE, Short JE. 2009. How Much Information? 2009 Report on American Consumers. Global Information Industry Center at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California, San Diego.

UCSD Study: HMI Case Studies. 2009.
Madnick S, Norris J, Smith M, Clopeck K. 2009. HMI? Case Studies How Much Information? Case Studies on Scientific Research at MIT. Global Information Industry Center at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California, San Diego.

Hilbert and Lopez. 2011.
Hilbert M, Lopez P. 2011. The World’s Technological Capacity to Store, Communicate, and Compute Information. Science. Vol. 332 no. 6025 pp. 60-65.