Data Analysis and Interpretation Capstone from Coursera

The Capstone project will allow you to continue to apply and refine the data analytic techniques learned from the previous courses in the Specialization to address an important issue in society. You will use real world data to complete a project with our industry and academic partners. For example, you can work with our industry partner, DRIVENDATA, to help them solve some of the world's biggest social challenges! DRIVENDATA at www.drivendata.org, is committed to bringing cutting-edge practices in data science and crowdsourcing to some of the world's biggest social challenges and the organizations taking them on.

Or, you can work with our other industry partner, The Connection (www.theconnectioninc.org) to help them better understand recidivism risk for people on parole seeking substance use treatment. For more than 40 years, The Connection has been one of Connecticut’s leading private, nonprofit human service and community development agencies. Each month, thousands of people are assisted by The Connection’s diverse behavioral health, family support and community justice programs. The Connection’s Institute for Innovative Practice was created in 2010 to bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners in the behavioral health and criminal justice fields with the goal of developing maximally effective, evidence-based treatment programs.

A major component of the Capstone project is for you to be able to choose the information from your analyses that best conveys results and implications, and to tell a compelling story with this information. By the end of the course, you will have a professional quality report of your findings that can be shown to colleagues and potential employers to demonstrate the skills you learned by completing the Specialization.

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1. Identify Your Data and Research Question

In this Module, your goal is to review the lectures and readings in the Overview of the Capstone Project, and 1) decide which data set you will use to complete your capstone project. In addition 2) identify your research question, 3) propose a title for your final report, and 4) complete Milestone Assignment 1 as described in the assignment. By the end of this Module you will have drafted a final report Title and Introduction to the Research Question. Your Introduction to the Research Question should include a statement of your research question, your motivation or rationale for testing the research question, and some potential implications of answering your research question.

Module 2. Data Management

In this Module, your goals are to 1) complete the majority of your data management so that you are ready to begin your preliminary statistical analyses; and 2) complete Milestone Assignment 2 as described in the assignment. By the end of this Module you will have drafted a final report Methods section. Your Methods section should include a description of your sample, measures, and the analyses you plan to use to test your research question.

Module 3. Exploratory Data Analysis

In this Module, your goals are to 1) explore your data more extensively through descriptive and basic statistical analyses and data visualization; and 2) complete Milestone Assignment 3 as described in the Assignment. By the end of this module, you will have begun to draft your final report Results section, including some figures.

Complete Your Final Report

In this Module, you 1) will complete your analyses; 2) finish writing your final report, and 3) submit your completed Final Report as the fourth and final assignment. A complete description of what is required for your final report and a detailed grading rubric can be found with the assignment; a sample final report is provided with the materials in the first module.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches how data analysis can address pressing social issues

Provides opportunities to work with real-world industry partners

Develops skills in communicating data analysis findings effectively

Encourages independent learning through a structured project approach

Provides guidance on choosing an appropriate research question and data set

Covers essential data analysis techniques for beginners

Reviews summary

Engaging capstone to apply skills

Learners say that this capstone engages them to apply what they've learned in the specialization. Students appreciate how the course allows them to experiment and practice data analysis and interpretation.

Provides practical, hands-on experience.

"It really helped me applying what I've learned in the specialization. "

Learners apply learned concepts.

"It really helped me applying what I've learned in the specialization. "

Students say they're engaged.

"It really helped me applying what I've learned in the specialization. "

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Data Analysis and Interpretation Capstone with these activities:

Review the course syllabus

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This will help you get a better understanding of the course content and expectations.

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Review the course syllabus.
Identify the key concepts and skills that will be covered in the course.
Make a plan for how you will prepare for and complete the course.

Complete the Coursera tutorial on 'R for Data Science'

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This tutorial will provide you with a strong foundation in R, which is a popular programming language for data analysis.

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Sign up for the Coursera tutorial on 'R for Data Science'.
Complete all of the lessons and quizzes in the tutorial.
Practice using R by completing the exercises in the tutorial.

Review your statistical knowledge

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This will help you refresh your knowledge of statistical concepts and techniques.

Browse courses on Statistics

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Review your notes from previous statistics courses.
Complete practice problems from a statistics textbook.
Take a practice quiz or exam.

Six other activities

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Review the book 'Data Science for Social Good'

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This book provides an overview of data science techniques and their applications to social good.

View Build a Career in Data Science on Amazon

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Participate in a study group with other students

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This will allow you to discuss the course material with other students and get help with any questions you may have.

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Find a study group or create your own.
Meet with your study group regularly to discuss the course material.
Work together on assignments and projects.

Attend a workshop on data visualization

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This workshop will help you learn how to create effective data visualizations that can communicate your findings clearly and concisely.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Find a workshop on data visualization.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.

Practice data analysis techniques

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Use the data provided in the course to practice your data analytic skills.

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Import the data into your preferred data analysis software.
Clean and prepare the data for analysis.
Explore the data using descriptive statistics and data visualization.
Develop and test hypotheses using statistical methods.
Write up your findings in a clear and concise manner.

Create a data visualization

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Use your data analytic skills to create a data visualization that effectively communicates your findings.

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Choose a data visualization technique that is appropriate for your data and research question.
Create a data visualization using your preferred data visualization software.
Annotate the data visualization with clear and concise labels and titles.
Write up a brief explanation of your data visualization.

Create a final report on your capstone project

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This report will allow you to showcase your data analytic skills and your understanding of the course content.

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Choose a topic for your capstone project.
Gather data and conduct your analysis.
Write a report that includes your findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Career center

Learners who complete Data Analysis and Interpretation Capstone will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to identify trends, patterns, and insights that can help businesses make informed decisions. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Data Analysts. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to extract insights from data. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Data Scientists. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Market Researcher

Market Researchers collect and analyze data to understand consumer behavior and trends. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Market Researchers. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

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Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use their knowledge of mathematics and statistics to solve business problems. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Operations Research Analysts. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use their knowledge of finance and economics to analyze financial data and make investment recommendations. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Financial Analysts. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use their knowledge of business and technology to analyze business processes and make recommendations for improvement. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Business Analysts. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Web Developers. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

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Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts use their knowledge of information security to protect computer systems and networks from attacks. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Information Security Analysts. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design, develop, and deploy machine learning models. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Machine Learning Engineers. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design, build, and maintain data systems. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Data Engineers. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

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Actuary

Actuaries use their knowledge of mathematics and statistics to assess risk and uncertainty. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Actuaries. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and patterns of disease. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Epidemiologists. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

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Biostatistician

Biostatisticians use their knowledge of statistics to design and analyze studies in the biomedical field. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Biostatisticians. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software systems. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Software Engineers. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

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Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data to provide insights. This course can help you build a foundation in data analysis and interpretation, which are essential skills for Statisticians. You will learn how to use statistical software to analyze data, create visualizations, and communicate your findings. This course will also help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician