From science to sales, from sociology to sports, data analytics is unraveling the fascinating secrets hidden in numbers, patterns, relationships, and information of every kind. Get introduced to the key concepts, methods, and accomplishments of this versatile approach to problem solving. See the big picture of big data and the crucial role of data analytics.
Sample the tremendous scope and power of data analytics, which is transforming science, business, medicine, public policy, and many other spheres of modern life. Investigate why this revolution is happening now, and look at some common misconceptions about data analysis.
Data analysis is not just for large organizations and large datasets; it's also for the average person. Learn how to put data to work in your own life - from charting your cell phone usage to personalizing your medical care or improving your exercise routine.
Today's data users often feel like they're drinking from a fire hose of information. Investigate strategies that help manage the data deluge, and learn efficient ways to think about data that separate what's genuinely useful from what can be strategically ignored.
Humans are experts at pattern recognition, which is a key skill in data analysis. But when are patterns real and when are they imagined? Study some surprising correlations between apparently unrelated phenomena, asking whether there is a cause-and-effect relation or mere coincidence is involved.
Algorithms - rules to follow for solving problems - are the secret of managing huge datasets. Start by looking at simple algorithms, including an amazingly effective sorting procedure that you can perform by hand. Then see how these concepts apply to more complex problems, such as web search engines.
Study what happens after you gather data. It must first be stored, then organized, integrated with data from other sources, and analyzed. Now you are ready to act on the information that the data provides. Determine how this cycle works in practice, and uncover some hidden pitfalls.
Graphics have long been a compelling way to present and understand data. Survey some unusually effective graphics from the pre-computer era. Then explore the wealth of graphical tools available today. Graphics can reveal new information, but they can also obscure it when used poorly.
"Garbage in, garbage out" is a famous expression in computer science, underscoring the importance of starting with reliable data. Learn how data is prepared to remove errors and ambiguities. As an example, see how the US Postal Service perfected machines that can read hastily scribbled addresses.
Follow the saga of the 2002 Oakland A's, famously depicted in the book and film Moneyball. Thanks to data analytics, the A's made it to the major league playoffs with a roster of undervalued players. Survey the increasing role of data at all levels of sports competition.
Study the role of big data in predicting election results. Contrast the disastrous 1936 presidential poll by the Literary Digest with today's impressively accurate aggregators of polls, such as statistician Nate Silver. Analyze what makes aggregation more effective than any single poll.
