How to get started in Data Science and Analytics
What is Data Science and Analytics?
Data Science is a subset of Artificial Intelligence. It is basically the application of the scientific method using data towards solving problems. There’s a lot of misunderstanding that Data Science and Analytics requires you to be good at math and statistics but creativity and problem solving are essential for Data professionals.
Data Science uses different tools such as math, statistics, and machine learning when needed to solve the problem tackled thus, a good Data Scientist can determine what tools are needed at a certain time.
Ultimately, I like to think that Data Science and Analytics is 70% Problem Solving, 15% Programming, and 15% Mathematics and Statistics.
Why I fell in love with data
This video made me see what the value of data really is and that it’s not just about numbers.
Giorgia Lupi: How we can find ourselves in data
What my job has taught me over the years is that to really understand data and their true potential, sometimes we actually have to forget about them and see through them instead. Because data are always just a tool we use to represent reality. They’re always used as a placeholder for something else, but they are never the real thing. — Giorgia Lupi
A good read to start everything off
Want to Get Started in Data Science? Be Ready to Work.
Roadmap
Kickstarting your career
Learn Python and SQL → Build a portfolio (Explore datasets and conduct analysis) → Share it around and get feedback → Look for ways to apply your knowledge
The data project lifecycle
Asking the right questions (Problem-solving) ****→ Getting the data (SQL &NoSQL) → Cleaning the data (Data Wrangling) → Finding answers (Exploratory Data Analysis & Statistics) → Communicating Findings (Data Visualization and Data Storytelling)
Good first step
Go through this course to get a feel of getting started and how to think like a Data Professional!
Resources
Explore concepts you like by searching more about them! Here are a bunch of resources I liked that you might want to explore!
A guide to exploring the world of data
Data Tools
SQL in Google Sheets? Yes, We Can!
Python
Aral-Aral Learning Circles with Franz
Free essential data skills for today’s digital workplace
Flask
The Flask Mega-Tutorial Part I: Hello, World!
Data Projects
The Data Management kit by Franz Taborlupa
Case studies to read/get inspiration
Data Stories — Thinking Machines Data Science
Look at datasets and just explore them
Here’s an analysis I did on the Pokemon dataset as an example.
It’s simple coding and focused more on the context of the dataset, constructing a hypothesis, asking questions, and experimentation.
What Pokemon type is the best?
What Pokemon type is the best? — Google Slides
I suggest you look at other datasets like this and just have fun with it and keep asking questions!
Want to dive deeper?
Check out this Bootcamp, which is a more intense environment for learning with real stakes and collaboration.
Level up with a new data analytics career or work smarter in the job you currently have
Learn the skills you need and become a data scientist in 12 weeks
Hey!
I’m excited to see you start your journey in data! I’m a Data Scientist with interests in Agile Software Development, Product management, and UX Design towards data-driven social impact! I’d love to help you out more so just message me wherever and I gotchu!
All the best and stay safe,
Franz 🦎
