1.0 Terms and definitions for Course 2, Module 1

Action-oriented question

A question whose answers lead to change

Cloud

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

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 life cycle

The sequence of stages that data experiences, which include plan, capture, manage, analyze, archive, and destroy

Leading question

A question that steers people toward a certain response

Measurable question

A question whose answers can be quantified and assessed

Problem types

The various problems that data analysts encounter, including categorizing things, discovering connections, finding patterns, identifying themes, making predictions, and spotting something unusual

Relevant question

A question that has significance to the problem to be solved

SMART methodology

A tool for determining a question's effectiveness based on whether it is specific, measurable, action-oriented, relevant, and time-bound

Specific question

A question that is simple; significant, and focused on a single topic or a few closely related ideas

Structured thinking

The process of recognizing the current problem or situation, organizing available information, revealing gaps and opportunities, and identifying options

Time-bound question

A question that specifies a timeframe to be studied

Unfair question

A question that makes assumptions or is difficult to answer honestly