Module 1: Introducing Data Analytics and Analytical Thinking Answers (Part 4: Q46–65)

This is Part 4 of the Module 1 quiz answers for “Introducing Data Analytics and Analytical Thinking” from the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera.

Here, we’ll walk through questions 46 to 65 with detailed explanations to support your learning.

To find answers to the remaining questions, check out the full module breakdown below:

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 ✅

Explanation:
This process integrates data + expert input to validate findings before acting.

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

Explanation:
Data analysis covers the entire process from raw data to insights.

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 

Explanation:
Analysts answer questions (e.g., “What caused the drop in sales?”). Scientists ask new questions.

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

Explanation:
Key steps:

  • Analyze data → Draw conclusions → Consult SMEs → Act.

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

Explanation:
SMEs provide domain-specific knowledge (e.g., finance, supply chain).

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

Explanation:
Professional communication requires proofreading (typos = spelling mistakes).

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 ✅

Explanation:
A data ecosystem includes all tools/processes that handle data (storage, analysis, sharing).

53. Gut instinct is an intuitive understanding of something with little or no explanation.

  • True ✅
  • False

Explanation:
Gut instinct = quick, experience-based judgment (no formal analysis).

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

Explanation:
SMEs review findings for accuracy and business relevance.

55. Finding answers to existing questions by creating insights from data sources is the primary goal of a data analyst.

  • True ✅
  • False

Explanation:

  • Data analysts focus on solving defined business problems using data (e.g., “Why did sales drop last quarter?”).
  • Their work involves structured analysis to extract actionable insights from existing data.
  • Contrast with data scientists: Scientists explore open-ended questions and develop new models.

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

Explanation:

  • Gut instinct combines:

    • Experience (past patterns/context).
    • Data evidence (current trends).

  • This helps analysts interpret ambiguous results or spot anomalies.

  • Why not “personal opinion”? Opinions are biased; gut instinct is experience-informed intuition.

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:
The data analysis process requires:

  1. Collection: Gathering raw data (e.g., surveys, databases).
  2. Organization: Structuring data for analysis (e.g., cleaning, categorizing).
  3. Transformation: Converting data into usable formats (e.g., aggregating, normalizing).

  • Why not “sell it”? Selling data violates ethics and privacy laws (e.g., GDPR).

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

Explanation:
A data ecosystem includes interconnected components:

  • People (analysts, SMEs).
  • Tools (databases, analytics software).
  • Processes (data pipelines, governance).
  • These elements work together to produce, manage, and analyze data.

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

Explanation:

  • Data scientists explore open-ended questions (e.g., “Can we predict customer lifetime value using AI?”).
  • They develop new models/algorithms to uncover patterns.
  • Analysts focus on answering existing business questions.

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:
These terms describe informed intuition:

  • Gut instinct: Subconscious pattern recognition (e.g., “This outlier feels significant”).
  • Awareness: Contextual understanding (e.g., knowing industry trends).
  • Rational thought: Logical but quick reasoning.
  • Why not “personal opinion”? Opinions lack objectivity and data support.

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

Explanation:
The steps align with data-driven decisions:

  1. Gather/analyze data (environmental impact metrics).
  2. Consult SMEs (manufacturing experts validate findings).
  3. Take action (implement eco-friendly production).

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 ✅

Explanation:
A data ecosystem includes:

  • Components: Hardware, software, people.
  • Functions: Storage, analysis, sharing.
  • Goal: Turn raw data into business value.

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

Explanation:
Subject-matter experts (SMEs) provide:

  • Domain knowledge (e.g., marketing, logistics).
  • Problem context (why an issue matters).
  • Validation (do the insights make sense?).

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 ✅

Explanation:

  • Relevance ensures discussions stay on-topic and valuable.
  • Off-topic posts (e.g., politics, unrelated tech) distract from the forum’s purpose.

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:
The data-driven process flows:

  1. Analyze → 2. Validate with SMEs → 3. Implement.

  • SMEs catch errors and align insights with business reality.

Part 3 (Q31–45)

Congratulations! You’ve completed all questions. Share this post if it helped you, and check out other Coursera quiz answers below.

Related contents:

Module 2: The wonderful world of data
Module 3: Set up your data analytics toolbox
Module 4: Become a fair and impactful data professional
Module 5: Endless career possibilities
Module 5: *Course challenge*

You might also like:

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

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