Which term is used to describe how data is translated into information?

The term that accurately describes how data is translated into information is data analysis. This process involves examining, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, supporting decision-making, and providing insights. Data analysis helps to take raw data—often unstructured or semi-structured—and convert it into meaningful insights that can be acted upon.

Data analysis encompasses a variety of techniques and tools that facilitate the exploration and understanding of the data, allowing individuals and organizations to uncover patterns, trends, and relationships that are not immediately evident. This conversion of data into actionable knowledge is critical in many fields, including health information management, where accurate interpretations can influence patient care and administrative decisions.

The other terms do not suitably describe the process of transforming data into information. Data applications refer to specific use cases or software that utilize data, data collections involve the gathering and aggregation of data without necessarily processing it for insights, and data warehousing pertains to the storage of large volumes of data for analysis rather than the analytical process itself. Therefore, data analysis is the process that effectively bridges the gap from raw data to meaningful information.