Google Data Analytics Certification Glossary: Terms and Definitions

This deck contains terms and definitions from the glossary of the Google Data Analytics certification program, which includes 8 courses and is available on Coursera.

World Health Organization

World Health Organization

An organization whose primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations system

X-axis

The horizontal line of a graph usually placed at the bottom, which is often used to represent time scales and discrete categories

Y-axis

The vertical line of a graph usually placed to the left, which is often used to represent frequencies and other numerical variables

YAML

A language that translates data to improve readability

A/B testing

The process of testing two variations of the same web page to determine which page is more successful at attracting user traffic and generating revenue

Absolute reference

A reference within a function that is locked so that rows and columns won’t change if the function is copied

Access control

Features such as password protection, user permissions, and encryption that are used to protect a spreadsheet

Accuracy

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

Action-oriented question

A question whose answers lead to change

Administrative metadata

Metadata that indicates the technical source of a digital asset

Aesthetic (R)

A visual property of an object in a plot

Agenda

A list of scheduled appointments

Aggregation

The process of collecting or gathering many separate pieces into a whole

Algorithm

A process or set of rules followed for a specific task

Aliasing

Temporarily naming a table or column in a query to make it easier to read and write

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

Annotation

Text that briefly explains data or helps focus the audience on a particular aspect of the data in a visualization

Anscombe’s quartet

Four datasets that have nearly identical summary statistics but contain different plotted values

Area chart

A data visualization that uses individual data points for a changing variable connected by a continuous line with a filled in area underneath

Argument (R)

Information needed by a function in R in order to run

Arithmetic operator

An operator used to perform basic math operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Array

A collection of values in spreadsheet cells

Assignment operator

An operator used to assign values to variables and vectors

Attribute

A characteristic or quality of data used to label a column in a table

Audio file

Digitized audio storage usually in an MP3, AAC, or other compressed format

AVERAGE

A spreadsheet function that returns an average of the values from a selected range

AVERAGEIF

A spreadsheet function that returns the average of all cell values from a given range that meet a specified condition

Bad data source

A data source that is not reliable, original, comprehensive, current, and cited (ROCCC)

Balance

The design principle of creating aesthetic appeal and clarity in a data visualization by evenly distributing visual elements

Bar graph

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

Bias

A conscious or subconscious preference in favor of or against a person, group of people, or thing

Big data

Large, complex datasets typically involving long periods of time, which enable data analysts to address far-reaching business problems

Boolean data

A data type with only two possible values, usually true or false

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 metric

A standard of measurement used to solve a business task

Business task

The question or problem data analysis resolves for a business

C#

An object-oriented programming language used to create games and mobile apps in the .NET open source developer platform

C++

An extension of the C programming language that is used to create console games, such as those for Xbox

Calculated field

A new field within a pivot table that carries out certain calculations based on the values of other fields

Calculus

A branch of mathematics that involves the study of rates of change and the changes between values that are related by a function

CASE

A SQL statement that returns records that meet conditions by including an if/then statement in a query

Case study

A common way for employers to assess job skills and gain insight into how a candidate approaches common data-related challenges

CAST

A SQL function that converts data from one datatype to another

Causation

When an action directly leads to an outcome, such as a cause-effect relationship

Cell reference

A cell or a range of cells in a worksheet typically used in formulas and functions

Changelog

A file containing a chronologically ordered list of modifications made to a project

Channel

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

Chart

A graphical representation of data from a worksheet

Circle view

A data visualization that shows comparative strength in data

Clean data

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

Cloud

A place to keep data online, rather than a computer hard drive

Cluster

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

COALESCE

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

Code chunk

A piece of code added in an R Markdown file that is used to process, visualize or analyze data

Coding

The process of writing instructions to a computer in the syntax of a specific programming language

Column chart

A data visualization that uses individual data points for a changing variable, represented as vertical columns

Combo chart

A data visualization that combines more than one visualization type

Compatibility

How well two or more datasets are able to work together

Completeness

The degree to which data contains all desired components or measures

Computer programming

The process of giving instructions to a computer in order to perform an action or set of actions

CONCAT

A SQL function that adds strings together to create new text strings that can be used as unique keys

CONCATENATE

A spreadsheet function that joins together two or more text strings

Conditional formatting

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

Conditional statement

A declaration that if a certain condition holds, then a certain event must take place

Confidence interval

A range of values that conveys how likely a statistical estimate reflects the population

Confidence level

The probability that a sample size accurately reflects the greater population

Confirmation bias

The tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms pre-existing beliefs

Consent

The aspect of data ethics that presumes an individual’s right to know how and why their personal data will be used before agreeing to provide it

Consistency

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

Context

The condition in which something exists or happens

Continuous data

Data that is measured and can have almost any numeric value

CONVERT

A SQL function that changes the unit of measurement of a value in data

Cookie

A small file stored on a computer that contains information about its users

Correlation

The measure of the degree to which two variables change in relationship to each other

COUNT

A spreadsheet function that counts the number of cells within a range the meet a specified condition

COUNTA

A spreadsheet function that counts the total number of values within a specified range that meet specified criteria

COUNTIF

A spreadsheet function that returns the number of cells within a range that match a specified value

COUNT DISTINCT

A SQL function that only returns the distinct values in a specified range

CRAN (Comprehensive R Archive Network) (R)

An online archive with R packages, source code, manuals, and documentation

CREATE TABLE

A SQL clause that adds a temporary table to a database that can be used by multiple people

Cross-field validation

A process that ensures certain conditions for multiple data fields are satisfied

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

A programming language used for web page design that controls graphic elements and page presentation

CSV (comma-separated values) file

A delimited text file that uses a comma to separate values

Currency

The aspect of data ethics that presumes individuals should be aware of financial transactions resulting from the use of their personal data and the scale of those transactions

Dashboard

A tool that monitors live, incoming data

Data

A collection of facts

Data aggregation

The process of gathering data from multiple sources and combining it into a single, summarized collection

Data analysis

The collection, transformation, and organization of data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making

Data analysis process

The six phases of ask, prepare, process, analyze, share, and act whose purpose is to gain insights that 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 anonymization

The process of protecting people's private or sensitive data by eliminating identifying information

Data bias

When a preference in favor of or against a person, group of people, or thing systematically skews data analysis results in a certain direction

Data blending

A Tableau method that combines data from multiple data sources

Data composition

The process of combining the individual parts in a visualization and displaying them together as a whole