6 Types of Information (With Examples)

As you begin your research, you will need to understand what type of information you need. This section will help you know the difference between:

• Factual. Factual information is information that solely deals with facts. …
• Analytical. Analytical information is the interpretation of factual information. …
• Subjective. Subjective information is information from only one point of view. …
• Objective.

Types of Information

Six types of information

There are six different varieties of information. Here we inspect each one in depth to help you better understand them all:

Conceptual information

Conceptual information comes from ideas, theories, concepts, hypothesizes and more. With conceptual information, an abstract idea is not always rooted in scientific foundation and rather is the fundamental creation of beliefs, thoughts, philosophies and preferences. You can form or share conceptual information through comparison and reflection, creating philosophies that cannot be proven or seen.

Here are some examples of conceptual information:

Procedural information

Procedural information, or imperative knowledge, is the method of how someone knows to do something and used by performing a task. You can refer to it as muscle memory, since it is knowledge that is hard to explain and stored deeply in your mind.

Here are two examples of procedural information:

Policy information

Policy information focuses on decision making and the design, formation and selection of policies. It comprises laws, guidelines, regulations, rules and oversight for an organization, group of people or place. You can gain policy information through pictures, diagrams, descriptions and other visual, audio or written messages.

Here are some examples of policy information:

Stimulatory information

Stimulatory information is information that creates a response or stimulation amongst a person or group of people. Stimulation encourages the cause of activity and you can gain stimulatory information a variety of ways, like in person through observation, through word-of-mouth communication or through outlets like the news.

One example may be a person observing the body language and nonverbal communication of someone walking nearby. If the stimulation is positive, they may say hello and start a conversation perhaps or, if the stimulation is not positive, they may respond by walking the other way, running away or creating more distance between them.

Here are other examples of stimulatory information:

Empirical information

Empirical information means information gained through human senses, observation, experimentation and the testing of a hypothesis by establishing documentation of patterns or behavior. It almost always has a scientific foundation and verifies the truth or falsehood of a claim through qualitative and quantitative factors.

Here are several examples of empirical information, rooted in science:

Empirical information and evidence is opposite of anecdotal information and evidence, which is a conclusion based on informal collection methods, most often a personal experience and testimony.

Directive information

Directive and descriptive information is about providing directions to a person or group of people to achieve a particular result and outcome. You can use directive information with or without dictating the means to achieve the desired result. Directive information often comes in verbal or written form and can apply to leadership at work, in the military or government and with everyday experiences, like legal, life and safety matters.

Here are some examples of directive and descriptive information:

What is information?

Information is a fact, thought or data conveyed or described through various mediums, like written, oral, visual and audio communications. It is knowledge shared or obtained through study, instruction, investigation or news and you share it through the act of communicating, whether verbally, nonverbally, visually, or through written word. Information has different names, including intelligence, message, data, signal or fact. Knowing what type of information you need or how to share it can help you save time, stay organized and establish best practices for divulging information.

Words often associated with information include:

Other classifications of information

Another way to classify information is through these four attributes:

FAQ

What are the 6 types of information?

• Assumptions.
• Perception.
• Disinformation.
• Misinformation.
• Facts.
• Understanding.
• Know-how.
• Communication.

What are the 10 types of information?

• Books.
• Encyclopedias.
• Magazines.
• Databases.
• Newspapers.
• Library Catalog.
• Internet.

How many types of information are there?

What are the 5 examples of information?

• weights.
• prices and costs.
• numbers of items sold.
• employee names.
• product names.