Introduction to Data Analysis

About this course

Data analysis is really just asking a clear question and checking the answer carefully. This course takes you through the analysis process, shows you how to frame a useful question and how to describe and compare data sensibly. You'll finish by learning to draw conclusions that are honest about what the data can and cannot tell you.

What you will be able to do

• You'll be able to follow a simple analysis process from question to conclusion
• You'll be able to frame a question that data can actually answer
• You'll be able to describe a dataset using averages, ranges and simple counts
• You'll be able to compare groups and draw conclusions with appropriate care

Course outline

1. The Analysis Process

   8 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   Good analysis follows a loop: define the question, collect the data, clean it, explore it, analyse it and communicate the result. Skipping a step usually means rework later.
2. Framing a Good Question

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   A vague question produces a vague answer. A good question is specific, measurable and tied to a decision, so the data can give a clear result.
3. Describing Data

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   Describing data means summarising what is typical, how spread out values are and how many fall into each group. Simple summaries done carefully go a long way.
4. Comparing Groups

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   Many analysis questions ask whether two groups differ. Compare like with like, check group sizes and remember that a difference in averages doesn't prove why it happened.
5. Drawing Careful Conclusions

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   A conclusion should say what the data shows, how confident you are and what it cannot show. Association is not causation, and sensible limits build trust.
6. Tools you'll need

   6 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   You can do solid introductory analysis in a spreadsheet. As your data grows, tools such as Python with pandas or R become useful, but the thinking stays the same.
7. Careers & next steps

   6 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   Analysis skills lead into data, finance, operations and research roles. This lesson sets out where they can go and how to check what the work is worth.
8. Final quiz and certificate

   10 questions, pass mark 8 of 10. Pass to get your Reesby Academy certificate with a verification link.