Foundations

What is Data? What is Data Analysis?

Data: A collection of facts

Data analysis: The collection, transformation, and organization of data in order to draw conclusion, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making.

Data analyst: Someone who collects, transforms, and organizes data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making.

Data analytics: The science of data.

Data science: A field of study that uses raw data to create new ways of modeling and understanding the unknown.

What Skills Does a Data Analyst Have?

Analytical skills: Qualities and characteristics associated with using facts to solve problems.

Analytical thinking: The process of identifying and feigning a problem, then solving it by using data in an organized, step-by-step manner.

Technical mindset: The ability to break things down into smaller steps or pieces and work with them in an orderly and logical way.

Structured thinking: The process of recognizing the current problem or situation, organizing available information, revealing gaps and opportunities, and identifying options.

The Data Ecosystem

Database: A collection of data stored in a computer system.

Dataset: A collection of data that can be manipulated or analyzed as one unit.

Data element: A piece of information in a dataset.

Data ecosystem: The various elements that interact with one another in order to produce, manage, store, organize, analyze, and share data.