INFO HW

INFO 1010

Possible

Data Analysis

Process

for Class Project 1

YOU NEED TO BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DATA BEFORE YOU START TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT

QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED!!!

Before you start trying to determine what questions should be asked:

1.

Explore and get

to know the data

·

Make sure you understand what each

column stands for.

o

Identify the data type

and unit ($, lbs., etc.)

for each column.

·

Choose a few records (rows) and go through the data and see how the columns

may

or

may not

be

related to each other.

·

Then use frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts, and

histograms (at a minimum) to analyze the

data

2

. Explain what results you found interesting and why they are interesting.

·

The memo should contain:

o

Executive

Summary

o

Purpose of Memo/Analysis

o

Intere

sting/Useful Analysis/Findings

o

Recommendations of Possible Actions/Next Steps

·

In your memo, use

tables and charts to support and illustrate your findings!

·

Format the reports, tables, and charts so that the read

er focuses on what you are trying to say

and is not distracted by lack of formatting, poor formatting, over

-

formatting, etc.

o

Remember that most of the time your manager is going to be looking only at your

report and not at your actual Excel files.

o

Put your

name on the report

§

Make sure that

the report

is professional looking.

·

You can create your own memo format, but Microsoft Word has many

Memo

templates from

which to choose.

The most common error

people make when starting data analysis is coming up with qu

estions to ask

before they are intimately familiar with the data!!!

·

Remember: Getting the answer is the easy part. The hard part is trying to figure out the right

questions to ask.

·

Data analysis is an iterative and incremental task.

o

You will not be able

to do it well if you just make one pass at the data.

INFO 1010

Possible Data Analysis Process for Class Project 1

YOU NEED TO BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DATA BEFORE YOU START TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT

QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED!!!

Before you start trying to determine what questions should be asked:

1. Explore and get to know the data

 Make sure you understand what each column stands for.

o Identify the data type and unit ($, lbs., etc.) for each column.

 Choose a few records (rows) and go through the data and see how the columns may or may not

be related to each other.

 Then use frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts, and histograms (at a minimum) to analyze the

data

2. Explain what results you found interesting and why they are interesting.

 The memo should contain:

o Executive Summary

o Purpose of Memo/Analysis

o Interesting/Useful Analysis/Findings

o Recommendations of Possible Actions/Next Steps

 In your memo, use tables and charts to support and illustrate your findings!

 Format the reports, tables, and charts so that the reader focuses on what you are trying to say

and is not distracted by lack of formatting, poor formatting, over-formatting, etc.

o Remember that most of the time your manager is going to be looking only at your

report and not at your actual Excel files.

o Put your name on the report

 Make sure that the report is professional looking.

 You can create your own memo format, but Microsoft Word has many Memo templates from

which to choose.

The most common error people make when starting data analysis is coming up with questions to ask

before they are intimately familiar with the data!!!

 Remember: Getting the answer is the easy part. The hard part is trying to figure out the right

questions to ask.

 Data analysis is an iterative and incremental task.

o You will not be able to do it well if you just make one pass at the data.