Data Analysis Glossary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the Data Analysis Glossary.

Accuracy

The degree to which data conforms to the actual entity being measured or described.

Access Control

Mechanisms that determine who gets access to what information and resources within a system, ensuring data security, integrity, and accountability.

Alternative text

Text that provides an alternative to non-text content, such as images and videos.

Analytical skills

Qualities and characteristics associated with using facts to solve problems.

Analytical thinking

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

Append

To add (attach, insert) data to an existing table or spreadsheet.

Bar graph

A data visualization that uses size to contrast and compare two or more values.

Bias

Unintentional or intentional inclinations that cause unethical outcomes and may lead to legal concerns.

Big Data

Data sets so large that our traditional ways of storing and processing them are no longer adequate, presenting challenges to computer scientists and data engineers.

Borders

Lines that can be added around two or more cells on a spreadsheet.

Box plot

A data visualization that displays the distribution of values along an x-axis.

Bubble chart

A data visualization that displays individual data points as bubbles, comparing numeric values by their relative size.

Bullet graph

A data visualization that displays data as a horizontal bar chart moving toward a desired value.

Business task

The question or problem data analysis resolves for a business.

Cells

Individual row/column locations (A3, C2).

Channel

A visual aspect or variable that represents characteristics of the data in a visualization.

Chart

A graphical representation of data from a worksheet.

Chat

Real-time text conversations with collaborators on a spreadsheet.

Clean data

Data that is complete, correct, and relevant to the problem being solved.

Cluster

A collection of data points on a data visualization with similar values.

Cluster Sampling

A sampling method where the population is divided into natural groups or clusters, such as schools or communities, and a random sample of these clusters is selected. All members within the chosen clusters are included in the sample.

COALESCE

A SQL function that returns non-null values in a list.

Columns

A series of data arranged vertically in a spreadsheet, labeled with letters (A, B, C).

Combo chart

A data visualization that combines more than one visualization type.

Completeness

The degree to which data contains all desired components or measures.

Conditional formatting

A spreadsheet tool that changes how cells appear when values meet specific conditions.

Confidentiality

The safeguarding of privacy and security of data by controlling access to it.

Consistency

The degree to which data is repeatable from different points of entry or collection.

Content Analysis

A research method that involves examining text or visual data to identify themes, patterns, and meanings.

Context

The condition in which something exists or happens.

Convenience Sampling

A sampling method where participants are selected based on their availability and convenience to the researcher.

Correlation Analysis

A technique that allows the determination of a statistical relationship between two numeric quantities, often referred to as variables.

Data

A collection of facts.

Data Anonymization

The process of removing or modifying personally identifiable information to protect individuals' identities.

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 analyzing and processing data.

Data classification

The organization of data based on shared characteristics to ensure security, privacy, and compliance with regulations.

Data collection

The systematic and well-organized process of gathering and accurately conveying important information and aspects related to a specific phenomenon or event.

Data constraints

The criteria that determine whether a piece of data is clean and valid.

Data design

How information is organized.

Data-driven decision-making

Using facts to guide business strategy.

Data ecosystem

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

Data governance

A process for ensuring the formal management of a company’s data assets.

Data integrity

The accuracy, completeness, consistency, and trustworthiness of data throughout its life cycle.

Data science

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

Data sharing

The process of allowing access to or transferring data from one entity to another for various purposes, such as collaboration and research.

Data strategy

The management of the people, processes, and tools used in data analysis.

Data storytelling

Communicating the meaning of a dataset with visuals and a narrative that are customized for an audience.

Data validation

A tool for checking the accuracy and quality of data.

Data visualization

The graphical representation of data.

Dataset

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

DB Browser

An open-source database creation and management tool compatible with SQLite.

Delimiter

A character that indicates the beginning or end of a data item.

Dependent Variable

The variable that you measure or observe to see how it responds to changes in the independent variable.

Diary Studies

A research method that captures real-time insights into user behavior and experiences with a product or service through logs, videos, screenshots, and surveys.

Dirty data

Data that is incomplete, incorrect, or irrelevant to the problem to be solved.

Distribution graph

A data visualization that displays the frequency of various outcomes in a sample.

Diverging color palette

A color theme that displays two ranges of data values using two different hues, with color intensity representing the magnitude of the values.

DML

Database Manipulation Language; a subset of SQL used to alter data.

Donut chart

A data visualization where segments of a ring represent data values adding up to a whole.

Duplicate data

Any record that inadvertently shares data with another record.

Dynamic visualizations

Data visualizations that are interactive or change over time.

Emphasis

The design principle of arranging visual elements to focus the audience’s attention on important information in a data visualization.

Engagement

Capturing and holding someone’s interest and attention during a data presentation.

ETL

The process of getting data from the source, making it meaningful, and placing it out for others to use or read. ETL stands for extract, transform, and load.

Ethics

Adherence to the highest standards to ensure the best interests of every party affected by data collection and usage.

Experiments

A research method involving the manipulation of variables in a controlled environment to observe the effects.

Extrapolation

Making a prediction for a data point that is outside or beyond your existing data points.

Filter

Display only the data that is relevant in a range.

Focus Groups

A research method where a researcher facilitates discussions among a small group of people to gather feedback and insights on a specific topic.

Formula

An expression that operates on values in a range of cells or a cell (for example, =A1+A2+A3 finds the sum of the range of values from cell A1 to cell A3).

Framework

The context a presentation needs to create logical connections that tie back to the business task and metrics.

Freeze rows or columns

Keep an area of the sheet visible while you scroll.

Function

A predefined formula that performs calculations using specific values in a particular order; all spreadsheet programs include common functions that can be used for quickly finding the sum, average, count, maximum value, and minimum value for a range of cells (for example, =SUM(A1:A3) finds the sum of the range of values from cell A1 to cell A3).

Gap analysis

A method for examining and evaluating the current state of a process in order to identify opportunities for improvement in the future.

Gantt chart

A data visualization that displays the duration of events or activities on a timeline.

Gauge chart

A data visualization that shows a single result within a progressive range of values.

Google Drive

Google’s online document storage application.

Headline

Text at the top of a visualization that communicates the data being presented.

Heat map

A data visualization that uses color contrast to compare categories in a dataset.

Highlight table

A data visualization that uses conditional formatting and color on a table.

Histogram

A data visualization that shows how often data values fall into certain ranges.

Import

Bringing data into a system from another source, such as a file or a different system.

Incomplete data

Data that is missing important fields.

Inconsistent data

Data that uses different formats to represent the same thing.

Incorrect/inaccurate data

Data that is complete but inaccurate.

Independent Variable

The variable that you can change or control.

Inferential Statistics

Techniques that allow researchers to infer or generalize observations from samples to the larger population from which they were selected.

Informed Consent

A process of obtaining permission from a research subject indicating their understanding of the data collection scope and associated risks.

Intellectual Property

Original artistic works, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, and other creative outputs protected by specific laws.

Interpolation

Making a prediction for a point that falls within the range of your data points.

Interviews

A qualitative research method used to gather in-depth information from individuals through structured or unstructured conversations.

K-Anonymization

Ensuring that each record within a dataset is indistinguishable from at least $k - 1$ other records to reduce the risk of re-identification.

Label

Text in a visualization that identifies a value or describes a scale.

Legend

A tool that identifies the meaning of various elements in a data visualization.

Length

The number of characters in a text string.

Linear Regression

An analysis of the relationship between one dependent variable and one independent variable, where the relationship can be modeled using a linear equation.

Line graph

A data visualization that uses one or more lines to display shifts or changes in data over time.

Live data

Data that is automatically updated.

Map

A data visualization that organizes data geographically.