Introduction to Data Science - Unit : 1 - Topic 6 : DATA SCIENCE PROCESS: OVERVIEW

 

DATA SCIENCE PROCESS: OVERVIEW

The six steps of the data science process:

1.     The first step of this process is setting a research goal. The main purpose here is making sure all the stakeholders understand the what, how, and why of the project.

2.     The second phase is data retrieval. You want to have data available for analysis, so this step includes finding suitable data and getting access to the data from the data owner. The result is data in its raw form, which probably needs polishing and transformation before it becomes usable.

3.     Now that you have the raw data, it’s time to prepare it. This includes transforming the data from a raw form into data that’s directly usable in your models. To achieve this, you’ll detect and correct different kinds of errors in the data, combine data from different data sources, and transform it. If you have successfully completed this step, you can progress to data visualization and modeling.

4.     The fourth step is data exploration. The goal of this step is to gain a deep understanding of the data. You’ll look for patterns, correlations, and deviations based on visual and descriptive techniques. The insights you gain from this phase will enable you to start modeling.

5.     Finally, we get to the sexiest part: model building (often referred to as “data modeling” throughout this book). It is now that you attempt to gain the insights or make the predictions stated in your project charter. Now is the time to bring out the heavy guns, but remember research has taught us that often (but not always) a combination of simple models tends to outperform one complicated model. If you’ve done this phase right, you’re almost done.

6.     The last step of the data science model is presenting your results and automating the analysis, if needed. One goal of a project is to change a process and/or make better decisions. You may still need to convince the business that your findings will indeed change the business process as expected. This is where you can shine in your influencer role.