The Complete Guide to Data Preparation for Analysis
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The Complete Guide to Data Preparation for Analysis
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What you'll learn
Understand data collection frameworks and how they fit into data analysis processes.
Create effective surveys, implement logic, and manage survey administration.
Apply data standardization and wrangling techniques to prepare clean datasets.
Master data cleaning strategies, including handling missing values, duplicates, and outliers.
Skills you'll gain
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
March 2026
14 assignments
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There are 14 modules in this course
This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course.
In this comprehensive course, you'll dive into essential frameworks and techniques for data preparation, exploring everything from data collection to cleaning. You’ll discover how to apply frameworks for mobile, web, and real-time data streaming, as well as cloud-based systems to collect and analyze data efficiently. The course offers in-depth exploration into survey design and data standardization, ensuring that you understand both the theory and practical applications of these concepts. The journey through this course begins with foundational knowledge, advancing through frameworks for collecting and standardizing data. You'll also work on hands-on projects that involve creating survey questions, administering surveys, and applying various cleaning techniques to real-world datasets. As you progress, the course builds on each module to ensure a smooth and comprehensive learning experience. This course is ideal for data professionals, analysts, or anyone involved in data analysis and preparation. A background in data science or information technology would be helpful but is not mandatory. The course is designed to be approachable while still providing deep, advanced insights into data preparation. By the end of the course, you will be able to effectively collect, standardize, clean, and prepare data for analysis using various frameworks and tools, ensuring the highest data quality and integrity.
In this module, we will introduce you to the concept of data collection frameworks and their essential role in data preparation. We will explore where and why data collection is critical, with a focus on its application in decision-making processes.
What's included
2 videos
2 videos•Total 5 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Where and Why We Need Data Collection•1 minute
In this module, we will dive into the different types of data collection methods and frameworks. From mobile analytics to real-time streaming, you'll learn how each framework serves a specific purpose and enhances data-driven decision-making.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
7 videos•Total 20 minutes
- Types of Data Collection•2 minutes
- Mobile and Web Analytics Framework•5 minutes
- User Engagement Analytics Frameworks•3 minutes
- Centralized Logging Frameworks•3 minutes
- Real-Time Data Streaming Frameworks•2 minutes
- Cloud-Based Data Collection Frameworks•4 minutes
- Observability Frameworks•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Types and Frameworks of Data Collection - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will explore the intersection of business growth and data collection needs. You’ll learn how to select the appropriate tools and frameworks based on business context and project objectives.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment
2 videos•Total 17 minutes
- Business Evolution and Frameworks at Different Stages of the Business•7 minutes
- Tools for Data Collection Frameworks•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Business Context and Tools for Data Collection - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will introduce survey design, covering its fundamental principles and its diverse applications. We’ll also explore how ChatGPT can assist in creating and refining survey questions for better insights.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
5 videos•Total 7 minutes
- Introduction•1 minute
- Where Surveys Are Used•1 minute
- Impact of a Survey - McDonald Example•1 minute
- Types of Surveys•2 minutes
- Components of a Survey•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Part 2 - Introduction Survey Design Beginner to Pro - Framework and ChatGPT - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will introduce you to the process of planning and executing a survey project. We’ll guide you through gathering background information and defining clear objectives for successful survey execution.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment
2 videos•Total 4 minutes
- Introduction to the Project•1 minute
- Background Information and Defining Objectives•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Introduction to the Survey Project - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will cover the art of creating effective survey questions. From brainstorming to crafting clear, relevant questions, we’ll teach you how to gather valuable insights through well-designed survey items.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment
9 videos•Total 11 minutes
- Section Introduction•1 minute
- Thinking Themes – Key Themes•1 minute
- Brainstorming Questions•1 minute
- Prioritizing Questions•1 minute
- Question Types•1 minute
- Crafting Clear Questions•1 minute
- Avoid Double-Barreled Questions•2 minutes
- Consider Response Options•1 minute
- Neutral Language Question Flow and Sensitivity•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Creating Survey Questions - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will explore how to leverage ChatGPT for forming and refining survey questions. You will also learn how to design and implement the questionnaire using Google Forms for seamless data collection.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment
2 videos•Total 16 minutes
- Forming Questions and Fine-Tuning the Questions•7 minutes
- Creating the Questionnaire in Google Forms and Creating Options•9 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Creating Questionnaire with ChatGPT - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will cover the essential techniques for administering surveys. From logical branching to piloting and administrative methods, you’ll learn how to effectively manage and distribute surveys for optimal outcomes.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
4 videos•Total 7 minutes
- Logical Branching•2 minutes
- Piloting and Administrative Modes•1 minute
- Administrative Methods•3 minutes
- Conclusion•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Survey Administration - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will introduce the concept of data standardization. You’ll learn how it ensures consistency and quality in your datasets, enabling more accurate analysis and insights.
What's included
3 videos1 assignment
3 videos•Total 12 minutes
- Introduction to the Data Standardization Course•2 minutes
- Impact of Data Standardization•3 minutes
- Aspects of Data Standardization•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Part 3 - Introduction - Data Standardization Frameworks - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will dive into various data standardization frameworks. You'll explore data wrangling, blending, and transformation techniques, all aimed at preparing data for high-quality analysis.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
8 videos•Total 20 minutes
- Frameworks of Data Standardization•1 minute
- Data Wrangling•3 minutes
- Data Standardization•3 minutes
- Data Orchestration•3 minutes
- Data Blending•2 minutes
- Data Cleaning•2 minutes
- Data Transformation•2 minutes
- Data Integration and Data Enrichment•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Data Standardization Frameworks - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will examine the industry standards for data preparation. You’ll gain insights into how data standardization works within general and complex frameworks to ensure consistent, high-quality data.
What's included
3 videos1 assignment
3 videos•Total 26 minutes
- Types of Data Standardization and General Data Standards•11 minutes
- Demo of Data Standardization for General Data Standardization Frameworks•4 minutes
- Demo of Complex Data Standardization•12 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Industry Standards and Its Frameworks - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will introduce the significance of data cleaning. You'll learn how data cleaning techniques ensure accuracy and reliability, preparing your data for in-depth analysis.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment
2 videos•Total 8 minutes
- Introduction to Data Cleaning and How Significant It Is•5 minutes
- What Is Data Cleaning•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Part 4 - Introduction - Data Cleaning Frameworks and Techniques - Data Professionals - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will explore the key aspects of data cleaning, including data profiling and error correction. You’ll gain the skills to identify and resolve issues, ensuring your data is accurate and ready for analysis.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
5 videos•Total 13 minutes
- Key Aspects of Data Cleaning•5 minutes
- Data Profiling•4 minutes
- Methods of Data Cleaning•1 minute
- Impact of Data Cleaning•2 minutes
- Where Data Cleaning Is Used•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Key Aspects of Data Cleaning - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will explore advanced data cleaning techniques, from handling missing data to data transformation. You will gain hands-on experience with tools that ensure your data is in top shape for analysis.
What's included
16 videos2 assignments
16 videos•Total 58 minutes
- Techniques of Data Cleaning•1 minute
- Handling Missing Values•4 minutes
- Examples of Handling Missing Values•4 minutes
- Data Deduplication and Identifying Duplicate Information•2 minutes
- Data Deduplication - Comparison Methods•1 minute
- Duplicate Detection•1 minute
- Data Deduplication Conclusion•3 minutes
- Outlier Identification and Treatment•6 minutes
- Example of Outlier Identification and Treatment•2 minutes
- Data Normalization and Data Standardization•4 minutes
- Data Formatting and Data Parsing•5 minutes
- Inconsistent Data Handling•4 minutes
- Error Correction and Validation•4 minutes
- Data Transformation•5 minutes
- Feature Engineering•5 minutes
- Handling Imbalanced Data•6 minutes
2 assignments•Total 75 minutes
- Full Course Assessment•60 minutes
- Full Course Practice Assessment•15 minutes
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Frequently asked questions
Data preparation for analysis is the process of cleaning, transforming, and organizing raw data into a structured format suitable for analysis. It includes activities like data cleaning, data transformation, and standardization, ensuring that data is accurate, consistent, and ready for use in making informed decisions. The relevance of data preparation lies in its ability to improve the quality of insights derived from data, which is crucial for businesses and data professionals to make accurate predictions and informed decisions.
This course is designed to teach you the foundational skills necessary for data preparation for analysis. It covers a wide range of topics, including data collection frameworks, survey design, data standardization techniques, and data cleaning methods. You'll learn how to use industry-standard frameworks, tools, and techniques to clean, standardize, and organize data for successful analysis.
After completing this course, you will be equipped with the skills to effectively prepare raw data for analysis. You’ll be able to design and implement data collection frameworks, clean data to ensure its accuracy, and standardize it to improve consistency. Additionally, you will know how to handle common issues like missing values, duplicates, and outliers in datasets, making you capable of managing data with confidence for analytical projects.
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