IS‘24: Module Two, Knowing Your Data

Module 2: Knowing Your Data

Before any supportable analysis can take place, the analyst must know the data. This includes summary statistics for each variable, correlations between the variables, and meanings of the values and of the missing values. This also includes being able to create graphics that “tell the story of the data.”

The first thing I always ask my clients is “Tell me about your data.” Hearing how they describe their data — and the relationships within — gives me much greater insight into their scientific theory than just having them lecture me about the theory.

Furthermore, when they want me to perform an extensive analysis, I will tend to ask them what the results should look like. This includes what relationships they expect as well as what the graphics should look like. You knowing how to create graphics will help you better understand what the data are really telling you.

Module Objectives

By the end of this module, the student will

compare and contrast the measures of center (and of spread) to determine what each tells us about the data
understand when (and why) to standardize data and determine whether the data are significantly skewed
create appropriate univariate and bivariate graphics of the data

Introductory Statistics

IS: Module Two, Knowing Your Data

Module 2: Knowing Your Data

Module Objectives


	Ole J. Forsberg, PhD Associate Professor Chair of Data Sciences Office: SMC E-212 Knox College 2 East South Street Campus Box K-6 Galesburg, IL, USA, 61401-4999	Some Links Knox College of Illinois Department: Mathematics Program: Data Science Program: Statistics R for Starters Project Scarlet Elections @Knox