test review Flashcards
true or false: good decisions require good information derived from raw date
true
where is data best stored?
in a database
t or f: understanding file system characteristics is not important?
false
when is the database used?
almost everywhere like management, research, and administration.
true or false: it is important to understand how database work and interact with other apps?
true
what is information?
is the result of processing raw data to reveal meaning.
t or f: Raw data must be formatted for storage, processing, and presentation?
true
t or f: data are the foundation of information, which is the bedrock of knowledge?
true
what is data in relation to information?
data is the building block of information
information is produced by processing data.
information used to reveal the meaning of data.
why are accuracy, relevancy, and time information important?
for good decision-making.
what is data management focused on?
proper generation, storage, and retrieving of data.
what is a database?
shared, integrated computer structure that stores a collection of end-user data. metadata.
what is end-user data?
raw facts of interest to end user.
what is metadata?
data about data
it provides a description of data characteristics and relationships in data.
complements and expands value of data.
what is a database management system (DBMS)?
collection of programs
manages the structure and controls access to data.
t or f: DBMS is the intermediary between the user and the database?
true
t or f: database structure stored as file collection?
true
t or f: you can access files through the DBMS and many more?
false (only DBMS)
t or f: DBMS enables data to be shared?
true
t or f: DBMS does not integrate many users’ views of the data?
false
what are the advantages of DBMS?
improve data sharing.
improve data security.
better data integration.
minimize data inconsistency.
improve data access.
improve decision-making.
increase end-user productivity.
the database can be classified according to the:
number of users
database location
expected type and extent of use
t or f: single-user database supports one or more users at a time?
false (only one)
what is a desktop database?
single user runs on PC.
what is the difference between a centralized database and distributed database?
centralized database located at a single site.
a distributed database is data distributes across several different sites.
what is a data warehouse?
stores data used for tactical or strategic decisions.
types of data?
structured data: resulted from the formatting.
unstructured data: data exist in their original state
semistructured data: data have been processed to some extent.
what is an extensible markup language (XML)?
represents data elements in textual format.
what database does XML support?
semistructural XML data
why is a database design important?
it focuses on the design of database structure used for end-user data.
what is the difference between a well-designed and a poorly-designed database?
well-designed: facilitates data management
poorly-designed: causes difficult to trace errors
reasons for studying file systems?
complexity of database design is easier to understand
understanding it helps avoid problems with DBMS systems.
t or f: the content of each file folder is not logically related?
false
what is the difference between manual file systems and computerized file systems?
manual file systems served as a repository for small data collection.
computerized file systems are a data processing specialist in converting computer file structure from manual systems.
t or f: as the number of files decreases, file systems evolve?
False (increases)
initially, what does a computer file system resemble?
manual systems
t or f: each file used its own application program to store, retrieve, and modify data?
true
what is the difference between data, field, record, and file?
data are raw facts that do not have a meaning or little meaning.
field is a character or group of characters that have a specific meaning.
record is a logically connected set of one or more fields that describe a person, place, or thing.
a file is a collection of related records.
t or f: the ubiquitous use of personal productivity tools can introduce the same problems as the old file systems?
true
what is Microsoft excel?
widely used by business users and a database substitute
t or f: file systems were not an improvement over the manual systems?
false
how long were file systems were used?
more than two decates
t or f: many problems are unique to file systems?
false
t or f: even simple file system retrieval required extensive programming?
true
summary of file system limitation contain?
requires extensive programming.
can not perform ad hoc queries.
system administration is complex and difficult.
difficult to make changes to existing structures.
security features are likely to be inadequate.
what is structural dependence?
access to a file is dependent on its own structure.
t or f: all file system programs must be modified to conform to a new file structure?
true
what is structural independence?
change file structure without effecting data access
what is data dependence?
data access changes when data storage characteristics change.
what is data independence?
data storage characteristics do not effect data access.
t or f: practical significance of data dependence is different between logical and physical data?
true
what is the difference between logical and physical format?
the logical format is how human views the data.
the physical format is how computers must work with data.
each program must contain?
lines specifying the opening of specific file types.
record specifications.
field definition.
t or f: file system structure does not make it difficult to combine data from multiple resources?
false
t or f: organizational structure promotes storage of the same data in different locations?
true
t or f: data stored in different locations are unlikely to be updated consistently?
true
what is data redundancy?
same data stored unnecessarily in different locations.
what is data inconsistency?
different and conflicting versions of the same data occurs in different places.
what is data anomalies?
abnormalities when all changes in redundant data are not made correctly.
to avoid data anomalies you have to?
update anomalies
insertion anomalies
deletion anomalies
t or f: most users lack the skill to properly design databases despite having multiple productivity tools available.
true
t or f: data modeling skills are not vital in the data design process?
false
t or f: good data modeling facilitates communication between designer, user, and developer?
true
t or f: database system consists of logically related data stored in multiple logical data repository?
false, only one data repository
t or f: DBMS eliminates most of the file system’s problems?
true
what is the database system environment?
defines and regulates the collection, storage, management, and use of data.
what are the five major parts of the database systems?
hardware
software
people
procedures
data
what is the difference between software and hardware?
hardware is the physical device.
software is the programmed devices and there are three types of software required:
operating system software.
DBMS software.
application programs and utility software.
who are the people in the database system?
all users of the database:
system and database admins
designers
system analysts and programmers
end-users
what are the procedures?
instructions and rules that govern the design and use of the database system
what is the data?
the collection of facts stored in the database.
t or f: database systems are created and managed at the same level of complexity?
false (at different levels)
t or f: database solutions must be cost-effective as well as tactically and strategically effective?
true
why are most functions are transparent to end users?
cause it can only be achieved through the DBMS
what does a data dictionary do?
DBMS stores definitions of data elements and relationships (metadata) in a data dictionary.
looks up required data component structures and relationships.
changes automatically recorded in the dictionary.
DBMS provides data abstraction and removes structural and data dependency
what does data storage management do?
DBMS creates and manages complex structures required for data storage
also stores related data entry forms, screen definition, record definition, etc
performance tuning
DBMS stores data in multiple physical files
what is performance tuning?
activities that makes the database perform more efficiently.
what do data transformation and presentation do?
DBMS transforms data entered to conform to a required data structure.
DBMS transforms physically retrieved data to conform to the user’s expectations.
what does data security do?
DBMS creates a security system that enforces user privacy and security.
security rules determine which users can access the database, which items can be accessed, etc.
what does multiuser access control do?
DBMS uses sophisticated algorithms to ensure concurrent access does not effect integrity
what do backup and recovery management do?
DBMS provides data backup and data recovery to ensure data safety and integrity.
it deals with recovery after a failure
what do backup and recovery management do?
DBMS provides data backup and data recovery to ensure data safety and integrity.
it deals with recovery after a failure
it is critical to preserving database integrity
what does data integrity do?
promotes and enforces integrity rules
minimize redundancy
maximize consistency
data relationships stored in a data dictionary used to enforce integrity
integrity is especially important in a transaction-oriented database system
what do database access languages and application programming interfaces do?
provides access through a query language
query language is a nonprocedural language
structure query language (SQL) is de facto query language
what do database communication interfaces do?
current DBMS accept end-user request via multiple different network environments.
what are the ways that communication is being accomplished?
end users generally answer query Qs by filling in screen forms through web browsers.
DBMS automatically publishes predefined reports on a web site.
DBMS connects to third party systems to distribute information via E-mail.
what does a database system provides a framework in which strict procedures and standers enforced do?
role of human changes from programming to managing organizational resources.
t or f: database system enables more sophisticated use of data?
true
t or f: data structures create within the database and their relationship determine effectiveness?
true
what are the disadvantages of a database system?
increase cost
management complexity
maintain currency
vendor dependence
frequent update/replacement cycles
chapter 2
the process that establishes need for and extent of information system. this is the def of?
system analysis
the process of creating information system?
systems developement
transforms data into information that forms basis for decision making?
applications