Representing, Processing, and Preparing Data from Pluralsight

This course covers the different data processing tools - including spreadsheets, Python, and relational databases - and deals with data quality issues and visualizing data for insight generation.

Data science and data modeling are fast emerging as crucial capabilities that every enterprise and every technologist must possess these days. As the process of actually constructing models becomes democratized, the general view is shifting toward using the right data and using the data right.

In this course, Representing, Processing, and Preparing Data, you will gain the ability to correctly represent information from your domain as numeric data, and get it into a form where the full capabilities of models can be leveraged.

First, you will learn how outliers and missing data can be dealt with in a theoretically sound manner.

Next, you will discover how to use spreadsheets, programming languages and relational databases to work with your data. You will see the different types of data that you may deal with in the real world and how you can collect and integrate data to a common destination to eliminate silos.

Finally, you will round out the course by working with visualization tools that allow every member of an enterprise to work with data and extract meaningful insights.

When you are finished with this course, you will have the skills and knowledge to use the right data sources, cope with data quality issues and choose the right technologies to extract insights from your enterprise data.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Understanding Data Cleaning and Preparation Techniques

Preparing Data for Analysis Using Spreadsheets and Python

Collecting Data to Extract Insights

Loading and Processing Data Using Relational Databases

Representing Insights Obtained from Data

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops the vital techniques of data quality issues and visualizing data for insight generation, which are highly relevant in most industries

Suitable for those looking to gain a strong foundation in the use of different data processing tools, including spreadsheets, Python, and relational databases

Taught by Janani Ravi, an experienced instructor in the field of data science

Covers a comprehensive range of topics in data cleaning and preparation, making it a good starting point for beginners and intermediate learners

Practical course that includes hands-on exercises and examples, providing a good balance of theory and practice

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 Representing, Processing, and Preparing Data with these activities:

Read 'Data Science for Business'

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Gain a foundational understanding of data science concepts and applications in a business context, which will provide a strong theoretical basis for the course material.

View Data Science for Business: What You Need to... on Amazon

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Read chapters 1-3 to understand the basics of data science.
Complete the end-of-chapter exercises to test your understanding.

Review general spreadsheet skills

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Review basic spreadsheet skills, such as formatting, formulas, and functions, to prepare for working with data in the course.

Browse courses on Excel

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Review basic spreadsheet functions like SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNTIF.
Practice creating and formatting tables and charts.

Complete online Python tutorials

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Enhance Python skills through guided tutorials, which will provide a solid foundation for working with data in Python, as required in the course.

Browse courses on Python

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Find online tutorials on Python data manipulation libraries, such as Pandas and NumPy.
Follow the tutorials to learn how to load, clean, and analyze data using Python.

Four other activities

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Join a study group

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Collaborate with peers to discuss course concepts, share insights, and work on assignments together, which can enhance understanding and improve retention.

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Find a study group or create your own with classmates.
Meet regularly to discuss assigned readings and practice problems.
Work together on course projects and assignments.

Practice SQL queries

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Complete practice exercises to reinforce understanding of SQL syntax and query writing techniques, which are essential for working with relational databases in the course.

Browse courses on SQL

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Use an online SQL editor to write and execute queries against sample databases.
Join multiple tables using SQL JOIN statements.
Filter and sort data using SQL WHERE and ORDER BY clauses.

Develop a data quality assessment report

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Analyze a dataset and identify potential data quality issues, providing recommendations for improvement, which will demonstrate understanding of data quality techniques and their practical applications.

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Choose a dataset to analyze.
Use data quality tools to identify errors, inconsistencies, and missing values.
Develop a report summarizing the findings and recommendations.

Build a personal data dashboard

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Create a data dashboard that visualizes personal data, such as spending habits or fitness metrics, to gain hands-on experience with data visualization techniques.

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Choose a topic and collect relevant data.
Design the dashboard layout and visualizations.
Use a visualization tool to create the dashboard.
Share the dashboard with others and gather feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Representing, Processing, and Preparing Data will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist is responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to extract insights that can be used to make informed decisions. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in data science and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. This information can be used to make informed decisions about products, services, and marketing campaigns. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in data analysis and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business processes to identify areas for improvement. This information can be used to make informed decisions about products, services, and marketing campaigns. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in business analysis and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Market Researcher

A Market Researcher is responsible for collecting and analyzing data about consumer behavior. This information can be used to make informed decisions about products, services, and marketing campaigns. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in market research and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst is responsible for analyzing financial data to make informed investment decisions. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in financial analysis and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Operations Research Analyst

An Operations Research Analyst is responsible for using mathematical and statistical techniques to solve business problems. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in operations research and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Statistician

A Statistician is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This information can be used to make informed decisions about products, services, and marketing campaigns. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in statistics and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

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Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer is responsible for developing and deploying machine learning models. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in machine learning and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Data Engineer

A Data Engineer is responsible for building and maintaining data pipelines. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in data engineering and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in software engineering and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

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Help Desk Technician

A Help Desk Technician is responsible for providing technical support to computer users. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in help desk support and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Help Desk Technician

Database Administrator

A Database Administrator is responsible for maintaining and optimizing databases. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in database administration and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Network Administrator

A Network Administrator is responsible for maintaining and optimizing computer networks. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in network administration and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

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Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst is responsible for analyzing and designing computer systems. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in systems analysis and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

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Computer Support Specialist

A Computer Support Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to computer users. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to use spreadsheets, programming languages, and relational databases to work with data. You will also discover how to deal with outliers and missing data in a theoretically sound manner. This course will help you build a foundation in computer support and prepare you for a successful career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Support Specialist