Which term refers to organized data that has been formatted to provide meaning?

The term that refers to organized data that has been formatted to provide meaning is information. In essence, data by itself consists of raw facts and figures, which require context and structure to become useful. When this data is processed and organized in a way that conveys meaning and relevance to a specific purpose or audience, it transitions into information.

For instance, a collection of numbers without context may not provide any clear understanding; however, when those numbers are arranged to represent sales figures over time, they become informative. This transformation from mere data to information is crucial in administrative support, as it allows professionals to make data-driven decisions and provide meaningful insights.

The other terms, while related, do not encapsulate this concept as effectively. A data set is simply a collection of related data points but does not imply that the data is organized to deliver meaning. A database refers to a systematic collection of data that can be easily accessed and managed, but again, it's the organization and formatting of that data that creates information. Output typically refers to the result produced from a process or system, which could be information but isn't specifically about the organization of data itself.