Module 1: Introducing data analytics and analytical thinking
In this post, I provide accurate answers and detailed explanations for Module 1: Introducing data analytics and analytical thinking of Course 1: Foundations: Data, Data Everywhere.
Whether you’re preparing for quizzes or brushing up on your knowledge, these insights will help you master the concepts effectively. Let’s dive into the questions and their detailed explanations.
Optional: Familiar with data analytics? Take our diagnostic quiz
Practice Quiz
1. Optional speed track for those experienced in data analytics
The Google Data Analytics Certificate provides instruction and feedback for learners hoping to earn a position as an entry-level data analyst. While many learners will be brand new to the world of data analytics, others may be familiar with the field and simply wanting to brush up on certain skills.
If you believe this course will be primarily a refresher for you, we recommend taking this practice diagnostic quiz. It will enable you to determine if you should follow the speed track, which is an opportunity to proceed to Course 2 after taking each of the Course 1 Weekly Challenges and the overall Course Challenge. Learners who earn 100% on the diagnostic quiz can treat Course 1 videos, readings, and activities as optional. Learners following the speed track are still able to earn the certificate.
If you aren't familiar with data analytics, this course was made for you! Feel free to skip this quiz and move forward through all of the course material.
Get ready to take the next step in your data analytics journey with the question below!
A clothing retailer collects and stores data about its sales revenue. Which of the following would be part of its data ecosystem? Select all that apply.
- The cloud that store its database ✅
- The databases of competing retailers
- The database of sales revenue ✅
- Records of its inventory ✅
Explanation:
A data ecosystem includes all elements interacting to produce, manage, store, and analyze data. For a clothing retailer, this would involve its sales revenue database, cloud storage, and inventory records. Competing retailers’ data is external and not part of the ecosystem.
2. What is the process of guiding business strategy using facts?
- Strategic improvement
- Data-driven decision-making ✅
- Analytical planning
- Identification of data and decisions
Explanation:
Data-driven decision-making involves leveraging data to guide strategic business decisions, ensuring choices are backed by factual analysis rather than intuition.
3. Fill in the blank: Curiosity, understanding context, having a technical mindset, data design, and data strategy are _____. They enable data analysts to solve problems using facts.
- thought processes
- analytical skills ✅
- personal insights
- business skills
Explanation:
These attributes form analytical skills, which help data analysts explore and solve problems effectively by using facts and logical reasoning.
4. The owner of a skate shop notices that every time a certain employee has a shift, there are higher sales numbers at the end of the day. After some investigation, the owner realizes that since the employee was hired, the store earns 15% more each month. In this scenario, the manager used which quality of analytical thinking?
- Correlation ✅
- Big-picture thinking
- Visualization
- Problem-orientation
Explanation:
The owner identified a correlation between the employee’s presence and increased sales. This analytical thinking quality involves recognizing relationships between data points.
5. Gap analysis is a process that could help accomplish which of the following tasks? Select all that apply.
- Spread awareness about income inequality based on local salaries
- Reduce a company’s carbon footprint based on its current emissions ✅
- Increase the efficiency of a car manufacturer based on its current assembly process ✅
- Improve accessibility for an educational app based on its current functionality ✅
Explanation:
Gap analysis examines current processes to identify areas for improvement, such as increasing efficiency, reducing emissions, or enhancing accessibility.
6. An advertising firm has used insights from its analytics team to create a strategy for improving sales. Now, they implement a plan to increase annual revenue. The firm is at which step of the data analysis process?
- Act ✅
- Share
- Analyze
- Process
Explanation:
The Act phase involves implementing insights to address business challenges, like increasing revenue based on analytical recommendations.
7. A data analyst adds descriptive headers to columns of data in a spreadsheet. How does this improve the spreadsheet?
- It adds context ✅
- It eliminates unnecessary details
- It improves the aesthetic appeal
- It clarifies the business strategy
Explanation:
Descriptive headers provide context, making it easier to understand and interpret the data’s structure and purpose.
8. This is a selection from a spreadsheet that ranks the 10 most populous cities in North Carolina. To alphabetize the county names in column D, which spreadsheet tool would you use?
- Alphabetize range
- Sort range ✅
- Name range
- Organize range
Explanation:
Using Sort range alphabetizes data, such as county names, enabling better organization and quicker data retrieval.
9. You are querying a database of manufacturing company suppliers. The column name for supplier identification numbers is supplier_id. What is the correct clause to retrieve only data about the supplier with identification number 85317?
- FROM supplier_id 85317
- COLUMN supplier_id = 85317
- SELECT supplier_id 85317
- WHERE supplier_id = 85317 ✅
Explanation:
The WHERE clause specifies criteria for data retrieval, narrowing down results to match the given condition.
10. Imagine you are sharing your data with a company stakeholder. Why might you display data with a data visualization instead of a table? Select all that apply.
- It helps them identify trends more quickly ✅
- It’s easy to understand ✅
- It thoroughly describes each data point
- It’s aesthetically pleasing ✅
Explanation:
Data visualizations simplify information sharing by presenting trends in an easy-to-understand and visually appealing format, making them ideal for stakeholders.
Test your knowledge on the data ecosystem
Practice Quiz
11. Which of the following statements best defines data?
- Data is an assortment of questions.
- Data is a business process.
- Data is a collection of facts. ✅
- Data is the use of calculations and statistics.
Explanation:
Data refers to factual information such as numbers, words, measurements, or observations that can be collected for analysis. By analyzing data, we can uncover patterns, draw conclusions, and make predictions to guide decisions effectively.
12. Fill in the blank: In data analytics, the data ecosystem refers to the various elements that interact with one another to produce, manage, store, _____, analyze, and share data.
- merge
- locate
- ingest
- organize ✅
Explanation:
The data ecosystem is a network of interconnected components that work together to manage data. These elements ensure data is efficiently stored, organized, and analyzed to provide meaningful insights.
13. Which of the following terms refers to the collection, transformation, and organization of data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making?
- Data elements
- Data life cycle
- Data insight
- Data analysis ✅
Explanation:
Data analysis involves processing raw data into actionable insights. This process enables businesses to identify trends, improve processes, and develop strategies based on evidence and facts.
14. An airline collects, observes, and analyzes its customers' online behaviors. Then, it uses the insights gained to choose what new products and services to offer. What business process does this describe?
- Data-driven decision-making ✅
- Performance measurement
- Collaboration with stakeholders
- Analytical thinking
Explanation:
This question highlights the importance of data-driven decision-making, a process where businesses rely on factual data rather than intuition to guide their strategies. By analyzing customer behaviors, the airline can identify market demands and improve its services accordingly.
Test your knowledge on proper use of the discussion forum
Practice Quiz
15. Which of the following examples is an appropriate use of the discussion forum?
- Asking other learners to give your resume to their employer
- Posting answers to quiz questions
- Sharing a photo of your new pet
- Asking a question about a lesson from this program ✅
Explanation:
Discussion forums are designed for learners to collaborate, ask questions, and share insights related to the course content. Using forums for unrelated topics or self-promotion is discouraged, as it detracts from the purpose of the platform.
16. In order to create clear and engaging discussions in the forum, which type of writing styles should you use? Select all that apply.
- Including proper punctuation, such as commas and periods ✅
- Writing in complete sentences ✅
- Writing in text message language, such as BTW for “by the way”
- Typing in all lowercase
Explanation:
Using professional language, proper grammar, and punctuation is crucial for effective communication in discussion forums. Writing clearly ensures that your message is understood and engages other learners in meaningful conversations. Avoid informal writing styles such as text message language or typing in all lowercase.
17. When posting in the discussion forum, what type of behavior is acceptable?
- Using cursing to emphasize your point
- Being sensitive, kind, and open-minded ✅
- Conveying your opinion clearly by arguing against someone’s perspective
- Sharing advertisements and product promotions
Explanation:
Creating a respectful and inclusive environment is vital for productive discussions. Being considerate of others’ perspectives and maintaining a positive tone fosters collaboration and enhances the learning experience. Avoid using offensive language or promoting personal products.
*Module 1 challenge*
Graded Quiz
18. Data analysis is the various elements that interact with one another in order to provide, manage, store, organize, analyze, and share data.
- True
- False ✅
19. In data analytics, a model is a group of elements that interact with one another.
- True
- False ✅
20. Fill in the blank: The primary goal of a data _____ is to create new questions using data.
- designer
- analyst
- engineer
- scientist ✅
21. Fill in the blank: The term _____ is defined as an intuitive understanding of something with little or no explanation.
- personal opinion
- rational thought
- gut instinct ✅
- awareness
22. A company defines a problem it wants to solve. Then, a data analyst gathers relevant data, analyzes it, and uses it to draw conclusions. The analyst shares their analysis with subject-matter experts, who validate the findings. Finally, a plan is put into action. What does this scenario describe?
- Data science
- Data-driven decision-making ✅
- Customer service
- Identification of trends
23. What do subject-matter experts do to support data-driven decision-making? Select all that apply.
- Offer insights into the business problem ✅
- Review the results of data analysis and identify any inconsistencies ✅
- Collect, transform, and organize data
- Validate the choices made as a result of the data insights ✅
24. You have just finished analyzing data for a marketing project. Before moving forward, you share your results with members of the marketing team to see if they might have additional insights into the business problem. What practice does this support?
- Data analytics
- Data science
- Data-driven decision-making ✅
- Data management
25. You read an interesting article about data analytics in a magazine and want to share some ideas from the article in the discussion forum. In your post, you include the author and a link to the original article. This would be an inappropriate use of the forum.
- True
- False ✅
26. Which of the following options describes data analysis?
- The various elements that interact with one another in order to provide, manage, store, organize, analyze, and share data
- Creating new ways of modeling and understanding the unknown by using raw data
- The collection, transformation, and organization of data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making ✅
- Using facts to guide business strategy
27. In data analytics, what term describes a collection of elements that interact with one another to produce, manage, store, organize, analyze, and share data?
- The cloud environment
- A modeling system
- A data ecosystem ✅
- A database
28. Select the best description of gut instinct.
- Choosing facts that complement your personal experiences
- An intuitive understanding of something with little or no explanation ✅
- Manipulating data to match your intuition
- Using your innate ability to analyze results
29. A furniture manufacturer wants to find a more environmentally friendly way to make its products. A data analyst helps solve this problem by gathering relevant data, analyzing it, and using it to draw conclusions. The analyst then shares their analysis with subject-matter experts from the manufacturing team, who validate the findings. Finally, a plan is put into action. This scenario describes data-driven decision making.
- True ✅
- False
30. Fill in the blank: _______ are an important part of data-driven decision-making because they are people familiar with the business problem and can offer insight into the results of data analysis.
- Customers
- Competitors
- Subject-matter experts ✅
- Stakeholders
31. Consulting with experts in the marketing department about your marketing analysis is an example of what process?
- Data analytics
- Data-driven decision-making ✅
- Data management
- Data science
32. You have recently subscribed to an online data analytics magazine. You really enjoyed an article and want to share it in the discussion forum. Which of the following would be appropriate in a post? Select all that apply.
- Checking your post for typos or grammatical errors. ✅
- Including an advertisement for how to subscribe to the data analytics magazine.
- Giving credit to the original author. ✅
- Including your own thoughts about the article. ✅
33. Which of the following could be elements of a data ecosystem? Select all that apply
- Sharing data ✅
- Producing data ✅
- Gaining insights
- Managing data ✅
Explanation:
The data ecosystem includes processes and components that handle the production, management, and sharing of data. Gaining insights is a result of analyzing data within this ecosystem, not a direct component.
34. If you are using data-driven decision-making, what action steps would you take? Select all that apply.
- Surveying customers about results, conclusions, and recommendations
- Gathering and analyzing data ✅
- Sharing your results with subject matter experts ✅
- Drawing conclusions from your analysis ✅
35. What do subject-matter experts do to support data-driven decision-making? Select all that apply.
- Collect, transform, and organize data
- Offer insights into the business problem ✅
- Review the results of data analysis and identify any inconsistencies ✅
- Validate the choices made as a result of the data insights ✅
36. Fill in the blank: When following data-driven decision-making, a data analyst will consult with ______ .
- subject matter experts ✅
- stakeholders
- managers
- customers
37. What is the purpose of data analysis? Select all that apply.
- To drive informed decision-making ✅
- To create models of data
- To draw conclusions
- To make predictions ✅
38. A data analyst is someone who does what?
- Designs new products
- Creates new questions using data ✅
- Solves engineering problems
- Finds answers to existing questions by creating insights from data sources
Explanation:
Data scientists use advanced analytical techniques to derive insights from data and solve complex business problems. This role focuses on interpreting data rather than creating new products or solving unrelated engineering challenges.
39. What tactics can a data analyst use to effectively blend gut instinct with facts? Select all that apply.
- Use their knowledge of how their company works to better understand a business need. ✅
- Focus on intuition to choose which data to collect and how to analyze it.
- Ask how to define success for a project, but rely most heavily on their own personal perspective.
- Apply their unique past experiences to their current work, while keeping in mind the story the data is telling. ✅
40. To get the most out of data-driven decision-making, it’s important to include insights from people very familiar with the business problem. What are these people called?
- Subject-matter experts ✅
- Customers
- Stakeholders
- Competitors
Explanation:
Subject-matter experts bring in-depth knowledge and context about specific business challenges, enhancing the accuracy and relevance of data-driven decisions.
41. A music streaming service is looking to increase user engagement on their platform. The CEO decides to leverage the company's user data and tasks the data analysts with uncovering unknown trends and characteristics of the companies user base. This strategy is known as what?
- Data analytics decision-making
- Data science decision-making
- Data management decision-making
- Data-driven decision-making ✅
42. You read an interesting article in a magazine and want to share it in the discussion forum. What should you do when posting? Select all that apply.
- Check your post for typos or grammatical errors ✅
- Include your email address for people to send questions or comments
- Make sure the article is relevant to data analytics ✅
- Take credit for creating the article
Explanation:
When sharing articles in forums, ensure they are relevant to the course topic and free from errors. Taking credit for someone else’s work or sharing personal contact details is unprofessional and violates forum guidelines.
43. A data scientist is someone who does what?
- Creates new questions using data ✅
- Finds answers to existing questions by creating insights from data sources
- Solves engineering problems
- Solves engineering problems
44. Data analysts act as detectives to uncover clues within the data. Like a detective, a data analyst may use their _______ to solve business problems.
- personal opinion
- rational thought
- gut instinct
- awareness
45. In data-driven decision-making, a data analyst would share their results with subject matter experts and draw conclusions from their analysis. What else would a data analyst do in data-driven decision-making?
- Identification of trends
- Determining the stakeholders.
- Survey customers about results, conclusions, and recommendations
- Gather and analyze data ✅
Explanation:
Data analysts identify trends, gather data, and collaborate with subject-matter experts to ensure that their decisions are based on facts and insights rather than assumptions or opinions.
46. Fill in the blank: _________ is the act of consulting with subject-matter experts about the results of your data analysis.
- Data analytics
- Data science
- Data management
- Data-driven decision-making ✅
47. Data ______ is the collection, transformation, and organization of data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making.
- science
- analysis ✅
- ecosystem
- life cycle
48. Fill in the blank: The primary goal of a data _____ is to find answers to existing questions by creating insights from data sources.
- engineer
- scientist
- analyst ✅
- designer
49. Sharing your results with subject matter experts and gathering and analyzing data are carried out in data driven-decision-making. What else is included in this process?
- Determining the stakeholders
- Identification of trends
- Drawing conclusions from your analysis. ✅
- Surveying customers about results, conclusions, and recommendations
50. Fill in the blank: The people very familiar with a business problem are called _____. They are an important part of data-driven decision-making.
- subject-matter experts ✅
- customers
- competitors
- stakeholders
51. Fill in the blank: When posting in a discussion forum, you should always check your post for _______ and grammatical errors
- support
- typos ✅
- importance
- popularity
52. Fill in the blank: Hardware, software, and the cloud all interact with each other to store and organize data in a _____.
- cloud environment
- modeling system
- database
- data ecosystem ✅
53. Gut instinct is an intuitive understanding of something with little or no explanation.
- True ✅
- False
54. You have just received the results of your latest analysis about the effectiveness of your firm’s recent marketing campaign. However, because you want to follow data-driven decision-making you share your results with colleagues from the marketing department for their validation. In this role, these colleague’s are acting as what?
- competitors
- subject-matter experts ✅
- customers
- stakeholders
55. Finding answers to existing questions by creating insights from data sources is the primary goal of a data analyst.
- True ✅
- False
56. Fill in the blank: In data science, ________ is when a data analyst uses their unique past experiences to understand the story the data is telling.
- rational thought
- gut instinct ✅
- awareness
- personal opinion
57. The objective of data analysis is to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making. In order to do this, a data analyst must do which of the following with data? Select all that apply.
- Organize it ✅
- Transform it ✅
- Collect it ✅
- Sell it
Explanation:
Data analysis involves collecting, organizing, and transforming data to extract insights and drive decisions. Selling data is not a typical step in the data analysis process and does not align with ethical practices or the goals of analysis.
58. Fill in the blank: Data ecosystems are made up of elements that _____ with each other. This makes it possible for them to produce, manage, store, organize, analyze, and share data.
- interact ✅
- unite
- gain insights
- problem-solve
59. Fill in the blank: The primary goal of a data _____ is to create new questions using data, instead of analyzing data to find answers to existing questions.
- designer
- scientist ✅
- engineer
- analyst
60. Fill in the blank: The terms _____ are defined as an intuitive understanding of something with little or no explanation. Select all that apply.
- awareness ✅
- gut instinct ✅
- personal opinion
- rational thought ✅
Explanation:
Gut instinct, awareness, and rational thought refer to intuitive and reasoned understandings. Personal opinion, however, lacks objectivity and is not used in analytical decision-making.
61. A data analyst at Billings Upholstery is trying to find more environmentally friendly way to produce furniture. The data analyst gathers relevant data, analyzes it, and uses it to draw conclusions. Then they share this analysis with subject-matter experts in manufacturing. Once the subject-matter experts have reviewed the analysis, a plan is put into action. What process does this scenario describe?
- Customer service
- Data science
- Data-driven decision-making ✅
- Identification of trends
62. Fill in the blank: A collection of elements that interact with one another to produce, manage, store, organize, analyze, and share data is known as a data ______ .
- environment
- model
- cloud
- ecosystem ✅
63. In data-driven decision-making, a person who is very familiar with the business problem is known as a subject-matter expert.
- True ✅
- False
64. Fill in the blank: When posting in a discussion forum, you should make sure that any articles discussed are _______ to data analytics.
- popular
- unique
- well known
- relevant ✅
65. As a data analyst, you finish analyzing the latest marketing data. If you are following the data-driven decision making process, what should you do next?
- Survey customers about results, conclusions, and recommendations
- Create a model based on the results of the analysis
- Share the results with subject-matter experts from the marketing team for their input ✅
- Archive the datasets in order to keep them secure
Explanation:
After completing the analysis, sharing the results with relevant stakeholders ensures that the insights are accurate, actionable, and aligned with business goals.
Related contents:
Module 2: The wonderful world of data
Module 3: Set up your data analytics toolbox
Module 4: Set up your toolbox
Module 5: Endless career possibilities
Module 5: Course challenge
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Course 2: Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions
Course 3: Prepare Data for Exploration
Course 4: Process Data from Dirty to Clean
Course 5: Analyze Data to Answer Questions
Course 6: Share Data Through the Art of Visualization
Course 7: Data Analysis with R Programming
Course 8: Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study