Week 1 – Effective questions

 

1. Structured thinking involves which of the following processes? Select all that apply.

Answers

·        Revealing gaps and opportunities

·        Recognizing the current problem or situation

·        Organizing available information

·        Asking SMART questions

Explanation: Processes like organizing information, seeing patterns, and rationally structuring ideas are common examples of structured thinking. It contributes to the presentation of concepts in a way that is coherent and unmuddled. Consequently, you have to give some thought to picking alternatives such as structuring the facts and locating patterns.

 

2. A data analyst creates data visualizations and a slideshow. Which phase of the data analysis process does this describe?

Answers

·        Prepare

·        Act

·        Share

·        Process

Explanation: During the "Communicate" step of the data analysis process, the process of creating data visualizations as well as a slideshow is often performed. The following phase, after data collection, cleansing, and analysis, is to effectively convey the results to the appropriate parties. Data visualizations and presentations are strong tools that may be used to communicate findings to a larger audience in a manner that is both understandable and convincing. The "Communicate" step is where the solution lies, as a result.

 

3. A recycling center that sponsors a podcast about saving the environment is an example of what strategy?

Answers

·        Defining the problem to be solved

·        Making recommendations

·        Staying on budget

·        Trying to reach a target audience

Explanation: It seems like a corporate social responsibility (CSR)-aligned marketing or promotional plan would look something like this. A podcast that raises people's awareness about environmental issues is being supported by a recycling center in addition to the recycling that is the center's principal commercial activity. This is consistent with a larger strategy of donating to social and environmental concerns, which has the potential to improve the company's brand image and demonstrates a commitment to sustainability.

 

4. A data analyst is working for a local power company. Recently, many new apartments have been built in the community, so the company wants to determine how much electricity it needs to produce for the new residents in the future. A data analyst uses data to help the company make a more informed forecast. This is an example of which problem type?

Answers

·        Spotting something unusual

·        Discovering connections

·        Making predictions

·        Identifying themes

Explanation: It seems like a corporate social responsibility (CSR)-aligned marketing or promotional plan would look something like this. A podcast that raises people's awareness about environmental issues is being supported by a recycling center in addition to the recycling that is the center's principal commercial activity. This is consistent with a larger strategy of donating to social and environmental concerns, which has the potential to improve the company's brand image and demonstrates a commitment to sustainability.

 

5. Describe the key difference between the problem types of categorizing things and identifying themes.

Answers

·        Categorizing things involves determining how items are different from each other. Identifying themes brings different items back together in a single group.

·        Categorizing things involves assigning grades to items. Identifying themes involves creating new classifications for items.

·        Categorizing things involves taking inventory of items. Identifying themes deals with creating labels for items.

·        Categorizing things involves assigning items to categories. Identifying themes takes those categories a step further, grouping them into broader themes.

Explanation: The process of putting things into distinct categories according to common qualities or criteria is what we mean when we talk about categorizing things. Developing unique and distinct classifications for the various components is an important part of this process. For instance, sorting fruits according to their categories or classifying books according to the genres they belong to.

On the other hand, detecting underlying patterns, concepts, or repeating ideas that link a number of different aspects is a necessary step in the process of identifying themes. It is more important to have a knowledge of the recurring themes or ideas that are present across the many bits of information. For instance, finding themes in a collection of articles may require recognizing reoccurring concepts or concerns, even if the articles belong to various categories. This is true even if the articles are discussing completely unrelated topics.

 

6. Which of the following examples are leading questions? Select all that apply.

Answers

·        What do you enjoy most about our service?

·        How did you learn about our company?

·        In what ways did our product meet your needs?

·        How satisfied were you with our customer representative?

 

7. The question, “Why don’t our employees complete their timesheets each Friday by noon?” is not action-oriented. Which of the following questions are action-oriented and more likely to lead to change? Select all that apply.

Answers

·        What functionalities would make our timesheet web page more user-friendly?

·        What features could we add to our calendar app as a weekly timesheet reminder to employees?

·        How could we simplify the time-keeping process for our employees?

·        Why don’t employees prioritize filling out their timesheets by noon on Fridays?

8. On a customer service questionnaire, a data analyst asks, “If you could contact our customer service department via chat, how much valuable time would that save you?” Why is this question unfair?

Answers

·        It is closed-ended

·        It uses slang words that not everyone can understand

·        It is vague

·        It makes assumptions

Explanation: This question might be considered unfair since it presupposes a favorable conclusion without taking into account any of the possible downsides or difficulties that could arise. It presents the usage of chat as a beneficial alternative, but does not investigate the real preferences or experiences of the client. The wording gives the impression that communicating with customer support via chat will necessarily save significant time for the consumer, which might possibly lead to replies that are prejudiced or slanted.

Shuffle Q/A 1

9. Organizing available information and revealing gaps and opportunities are part of what process?

Answer

·        Identifying connections between two or more things

·        Categorizing things

·        Using structured thinking

·        Applying the SMART methodology

Explanation: The procedure to which you are referring is generally included as a component of the "Analysis" phase of a number of different problem-solving or decision-making procedures. The existing condition of things may be better understood, trends can be shown, and gaps or chances for improvement can be identified when the information that is already accessible is organized. Before making educated judgments or taking actions based on the studied data, it is necessary to complete this stage first.

 

10. The share phase of the data analysis process typically involves which of the following activities? Select all that apply.

Answer

·        Summarizing results using data visualizations

·        Communicating findings

·        Creating a slideshow to present to stakeholders

·        Putting analysis into action to solve a problem

11. A company wants to make more informed decisions regarding next year’s business strategy. An analyst uses data to help identify how things will likely work out in the future. This is an example of which problem type?

Answer

·        Making predictions

·        Spotting something unusual

·        Identifying themes

·        Discovering connections

Explanation: Your scenario, in which an analyst utilizes data to determine how things are likely to play out in the future, is an example of the sort of issue known as "Predictive Analysis" or "Forecasting." Both of these terms refer to the same thing. In the context of this discussion, the objective is to draw conclusions about potential future outcomes based on previous facts and patterns. This kind of analysis is useful for strategic planning and decision-making since it enables a firm to forecast impending trends and make more well-informed decisions on how to approach the business strategy for the following year.

 

12. Fill in the blank: Categorizing things involves assigning items to categories, whereas _____ takes those categories a step further, grouping them into broader classifications.

Answer

·        Making predictions

·        Finding patterns

·        Discovering connections

·        Identifying themes

Explanation: Taking those categories one step further and organizing them into bigger categories is what we mean when we talk about identifying themes.

 

13. Questions that make assumptions often involve concepts that are formed without evidence. An example of this is an idea that is accepted as true without proof.

Answer

·        True

·        False

Explanation: Without a doubt, the terms "presumption" and "assumption" are often used to refer to a notion that is accepted as true without providing any evidence. Questions that make assumptions have a greater potential to be biased or to steer respondents toward a certain response because they indicate certain views or concepts. When doing investigations and research, it is essential to be conscious of these presumptions and to work towards impartiality.

 

14. A garden center wants to attract more customers. A data analyst in the marketing department suggests advertising in popular landscaping magazines. This is an example of what practice?

Answer

·        Reaching your target audience

·        Collecting customer information

·        Monitoring social media feedback

·        Developing a data analytics case study

Explanation: This is an illustration of a method of decision-making that is driven by facts. Based on their examination of the problem, the data analyst has developed a plan for marketing the company that involves placing advertisements in famous landscaping publications. They most likely investigated data or information to determine prospective paths for drawing new clients, and advertising in landscaping publications is the probable answer that they identified as being the best option. This highlights how data analysis may be integrated into the decision-making process to better inform corporate initiatives.

 

15. Categorizing things involves assigning items to categories. Identifying themes takes those categories a step further, grouping them into broader themes or classifications.

Answer

·        True

·        False

Explanation: You have done a wonderful job of articulating it! Identifying themes requires detecting greater patterns or categories that link the several groups that have been categorized, while categorizing things entails placing them into particular groupings. It is a process that progresses from a more particular classification to a more general and abstract comprehension of the notions that lie under the surface.

 

16. Which of the following examples are closed-ended questions? Select all that apply.

Answer

·        Is math your favorite subject?

·        What grade did you get on the math test?

·        How old are you?

·        What are your thoughts about math?

17. The question, “How could we improve our website to simplify the returns process for our online customers?” is action-oriented.

Answer

·        True

·        False

Explanation: Unquestionably, an action-oriented inquiry would be something along the lines of "How could we improve our website to simplify the returns process for our online customers?" It focuses on determining particular steps or changes that can be done to better the process of making returns via the website, and it does so by identifying specific actions or improvements that can be implemented. This is a wonderful illustration of the kind of query that elicits helpful and practical solutions for the purpose of enhancement.

 

18. Which of the following questions make assumptions? Select all that apply.

Answer

·        Keeping employees engaged is important, isn’t it?

·        Wouldn’t you agree that product A is better than product B?

·        Did you get through to customer service?

·        It must be frustrating waiting on hold for so long, right?

Shuffle Q/A 2

19. Structured thinking involves recognizing the current problem or situation you’re facing and identifying your options.

Answer

·        True

·        False

20. Which of the following examples are leading questions? Select all that apply.

Answer

·        How satisfied were you with our customer representative?

·        What do you enjoy most about our service?

·        In what ways did our product meet your needs?

·        How did you learn about our company?

21. On a customer service questionnaire, a data analyst asks, “If you could contact our customer service department via chat, how much valuable time would that save you?” Why is this question unfair?

Answer

·        It is closed-ended

·        It uses slang words that not everyone can understand

·        It is vague

·        It makes assumptions

Explanation: This question is a little bit challenging since it makes the assumption that the responder has important time that they might save by contacting the customer support department via chat. It is possible that the individual may respond based on the presumption that chatting is a time-saving alternative as a result of this. The nature of the question is misleading since it hints to a particular advantage, which has the ability to influence the respondent's response. It is unfair because it adds bias into the survey by structuring the question in a manner that nudges respondents towards a specific response. In other words, it frames the question in a way that encourages respondents to provide a certain answer.

 

22. Fill in the blank: To apply structured thinking, a data analyst should ______ the available information in order to reveal gaps and opportunities and recognize the current problem or situation.

Answer

·        organize

·        communicate

·        share

·        record

Explanation: In order to put organized thinking into practice, a data analyst has to do an analysis of the information that is already accessible in order to identify any gaps or opportunities, as well as the issue or scenario that currently exists.

 

23. A national chain of sporting goods stores advertises during popular sporting television broadcasts. This is an example of the company doing what?

Answer

·        Reaching its target audience

·        Demonstrating its support for a sports team

·        Defining the problem to be solved

·        Monitoring social feedback

Explanation: A good illustration of the company's use of tailored advertising is provided here. They are targeting a certain demographic of viewers interested in sports and, presumably, sporting items by deliberately positioning their commercials during popular athletic television broadcasts on television.

 

24. In data analysis, categorizing things involves which of the following?

Answer

·        Creating new classifications for items and assigning grades to items

·        Assigning items to categories

·        Taking an inventory of items

·        Determining how items are different from each other

Explanation: When doing data analysis, classifying items requires going through the classification process. Typically, this means putting together groups of things or data points that are comparable to one another on the basis of common features or qualities.

 

25. The question, “Why was the Monday afternoon yoga class successful?” is not measurable. Which of the following questions presents a measurable way to learn about the yoga class?

Answer

·        Why do people like taking yoga classes on Mondays?

·        How many customers responded to our recent half-price yoga promotion?

·        Is yoga a great way to stretch and strengthen your body?

·        Do yoga instructors seem more energetic at the beginning of the week?

Explanation: This question offers a quantitative indicator (the number of participants) that can be assessed to evaluate how successful the yoga session was. The satisfaction ratings on a scale may also be obtained from this question.

 

26. Why should a data analyst only ask fair questions?

Answer

·        Unfair questions do not have answers.

·        Unfair questions can provide data that is misleading.

·        Fair questions are biased.

·        Fair questions do not offend people.

Explanation: For a number of different reasons, it is essential for a data analyst to ask reasonable questions. To begin, asking questions that are objective helps maintain the reliability of the data analysis process. Asking questions that are biased or unjust may lead to skewed findings, which can then lead to erroneous conclusions.

Second, the use of fair questions encourages the conduct of ethical research. It is essential to show respondents respect and refrain from attempting to influence the answers they provide. It's possible that unfair questions may accidentally steer respondents toward a specific response, which would put a damper on the reliability of the data.

In the end, asking questions that are fair assures the reliability and validity of the data that is gathered, which allows for more accurate insights and decision-making that is guided by the analysis.

 

27. In the share step of the data analysis process, a data analyst summarizes their results using data visualizations and creates a slideshow to present to stakeholders. What else might they do in this step?

Answer

·        Collect data.

·        Communicate findings.

·        Organize the available information

·        Shred paper files.

 

28. If a cooking supply store wants to attract more customers, where can they advertise to better reach their target audience? Select all that apply.

Answer

·        On TV during the season finale of The Best Chef in the Universe

·        At a bus stop near a local culinary school

·        On a podcast for foodies

·        In a magazine all about advertising

Shuffle Q/A 3

29. Making predictions is one of the six data analytics problem types. How does data factor into such problem types?

Answer

·        The data informs the predictions.

·        The data confirms the decisions.

·        The data are the predictions.

·        The predictions validate the data.

30. Which of the following examples are closed-ended questions? Select all that apply.

Answer

·        How tall are you?

·        What did you think about the article that I sent you?

·        What is your opinion of the new movie?

·        Have you taken this class before?

31. What is the defining characteristic of measurable questions?

Answer

·        They are questions that have numbers in them.

·        Their answers are numbers that can be interpreted qualitatively.

·        They are questions that use numbers as categories.

·        Their answers are numbers that can be interpreted mathematically.

Explanation: Measurable problems are distinguished by the fact that they are amenable to being quantified or evaluated via the use of numerical values or certain metrics. Questions that are measurable are meant to collect information that can be counted, measured, or stated quantitatively. This kind of information enables objective analysis and comparison to take place. These inquiries often seek information that is clear and visible, which makes it much simpler to generate useful insights from the data that was obtained.

 

32. Fill in the blank: “How many people filled out the survey?” is an example of a question that is _____ in the context of data analysis.

Answer

·        categorical

·        symbolic

·        measureable

·        qualitative

Explanation: In the context of data analysis, a question such as "How many people filled out the survey?" is an example of a question that is quantifiable. This question seeks a numerical value, which, by virtue of the fact that it counts the number of persons who filled out the survey, makes it ideal for quantitative analysis.

 

33. Fill in the blank: In the _____ step of the data analysis process, an analyst would create visualizations to summarize their results.

Answer

·        process

·        share

·        prepare

·        act

Explanation: An analyst would generate graphics to describe their findings during the phase of the process known as "visualization," which is part of the data analysis process.

34. A community college wishes to share information about their new career technical degrees. Who are likely examples of their target audience? Select all that apply.

Answer

·        Students newly enrolled at a state university

·        People who are happy with their current jobs

·        People looking for a career change

·        Students who just graduated high school

35. A restaurant is considering offering a delivery option for its customers. They use data to forecast the demand for this service. This is an example of which problem type?

Answer

·        Spotting something unusual

·        Identifying themes

·        Discovering connections

·        Making predictions

Explanation: An example of a problem that may be solved using predictive analytics is the restaurant that uses data to anticipate the demand for a delivery service. The process of applying statistical algorithms and historical data to create predictions about future occurrences or trends is referred to as predictive analytics. In this scenario, the restaurant is probably looking at data from the past in order to make projections about the demand for its delivery service in the years to come.

 

36. Fill in the blank: The question, “How could we improve our website to simplify the returns process for our online customers?” is _____-oriented.

Answer

·        action

·        passive

·        data

·        bias

Explanation: The solution-oriented question that should be asked is something along the lines of "How could we improve our website to simplify the returns process for our online customers?" It takes a proactive approach to tackling a particular problem by concentrating on finding methods to improve the website and simplify the process of making returns, and it does so by looking for ways to improve the user experience.

 

37. Why is reaching your target audience important in data analysis?

Answer

·        It brings awareness of your products to potential customers.

·        It makes your products easier to use for your customers.

·        It improves customer service for those currently using your products.

·        It increases the effectiveness of your services for customers.

38. Making predictions is one of the six data analytics problem types. It deals with using data to inform decisions about how things might be in the future. Select the scenario that’s an example of making predictions.

Answer

·        A data analyst at a gas company uses historical data to analyze a fluctuation in gas usage.

·        A data analyst at a school system uses data to make a connection between home sales and new student enrollment.

·        A data analyst at a shoe retailer uses data to inform the marketing plan for an upcoming summer sale.

·        A data analyst at a technology company uses data to identify a unique drop in social media engagement.

Explanation: In order to forecast the future demand for certain items, a retail organization examines previous sales data, consumer demographics, and seasonal patterns. The corporation makes adjustments to its inventory levels and marketing tactics on the basis of these projections in order to satisfy the expected demands of customers and maximize sales.

In this situation, the corporation is generating predictions about future product demand by using data analytics, which is a typical example of the "making predictions" issue type in data analytics.

Shuffle Q/A 4

39. Fill in the blank: Questions that make assumptions or suggest that a given answer is correct are examples of _____ questions.

Answer

·        unbiased

·        fair

·        wrong

·        unfair

Explanation: Questions that are instances of leading questions include those that either make assumptions or indicate that a certain response is right. It is possible for respondents to be unwittingly guided or biased toward a specific answer when leading questions are used, which may then affect the results of a survey or interview.

 

40. In structured thinking, why would a data analyst organize the available information?

Answer

·        To recognize the current problem or situation

·        To consult with subject matter experts

·        To ask SMART questions

·        To summarize results using data visualizations

41. While creating data visualizations for a slideshow, a data analyst considers, “What would help a stakeholder understand this data better?” The analyst is in the analyze step of the data analysis process.

Answer

·        True

·        False

Explanation: It seems as if the data analyst has moved on from the analyze stage and is now working on the share step. The purpose of the analyze stage of the data analysis process is to investigate, investigate, and get insights from the data itself. When the analysis is finished, the analyst goes on to the sharing stage, where they must examine how the results might be successfully communicated to others.

In the stage labeled "share," the analyst considers how best to communicate the results of the analysis to the various stakeholders. Creating data visualizations, developing slide presentations, or preparing other types of communication that increase stakeholder comprehension may be necessary to do this. The phase of sharing the findings of the analysis is more closely aligned with the question "What would help a stakeholder understand this data better?" since it emphasizes the significance of clear and efficient communication of the outcomes of the analysis.

42. In data analysis, identifying themes involves which of the following?

Answer

·        Creating new classifications for items

·        Grouping categories into broader themes

·        Creating labels for items

·        Bringing different items back together in a single group

Explanation: When doing an analysis of the data, determining themes requires a procedure that includes classifying and categorizing the information. The practice of systematically assigning labels or codes to segments of data that have common qualities or indicate thoughts that are analogous to one another is referred to as coding. The process of grouping these codes into more general topics or categories based on the underlying patterns or ideas that are present in the data is referred to as categorization.

This method enables analysts to recognize recurrent patterns, subjects, or themes within the dataset, which paves the way for a better comprehension of the information's context and the elaboration of relevant insights.