How do data literacy and information literacy differ?

• A. Data literacy is the ability to read, interpret, and critique data; information literacy is broader, including evaluating and using information from sources.
• B. Data literacy is about data collection; information literacy is about data storage.
• C. Data literacy and information literacy are identical.
• D. Information literacy is limited to using books; data literacy is about data visuals only.

Answer: (A)

Data literacy is about working with data itself—reading, interpreting, and critiquing data, understanding what the numbers and visuals show, and recognizing limitations or biases in the data. Information literacy is broader: it involves finding, evaluating, and using information from a variety of sources, considering credibility, relevance, context, and ethics as you integrate that information into a purpose or argument.

So the best description says that data literacy focuses on data and its interpretation, while information literacy encompasses evaluating and using information from multiple sources. The other options miss the essence: data collection and storage aren’t what data literacy centers on; the two literacy areas are not identical; and information literacy isn’t limited to books, nor is data literacy restricted to visuals alone.