Data is everywhere, but turning it into insight requires more than technical skills. You'll learn about bias and its appearance in data, sharpen your analytical thinking skills, and understand how data ecosystems operate. You’ll learn to question assumptions, interpret findings by combining data and business knowledge, and understand why data-informed decisions empower businesses.
Introducing Data Analytics and Analytical Thinking
Introducing Data Analytics and Analytical Thinking
This course is part of Google Data-Driven Decision Making Specialization
Instructor: Google Career Certificates
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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level
Recommended experience
3 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
Discuss the use of data in everyday life decisions
Explain the data analysis process, making specific reference to the ask, prepare, process, analyze, share, and act phases
Define key concepts involved in data analytics including data, data analysis, and data ecosystem
Explain the concept of data-driven decision-making including specific examples
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Recently updated!
September 2025
Assessments
5 assignments
Taught in English
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This course is part of the Google Data-Driven Decision Making Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 5 modules in this course
Data analysis follows a six-phased process that requires ongoing review and iteration to ensure quality. In this part of the course, you'll learn what data analysis is, what happens after data analysis, and why data science specialization is important.
What's included
2 videos3 readings1 assignment
Data ecosystems bring together multiple elements—hardware, software tools, and users—to serve various purposes like data storage and production. In this part of the course, you'll learn what the data ecosystem is, and why blending data with business knowledge can be useful.
What's included
2 videos2 readings1 assignment
In this part of the course, you'll explore what key analytical skills are required and how to apply them in business scenarios.
What's included
2 videos1 reading1 assignment1 plugin
There are many ways to think—creative, abstract—but analytical thinking is crucial. In this part of the course, you'll learn aspects of analytical thinking, what questions data analysts ask when searching for solutions, and why data-driven approaches are more effective.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment
Review everything you've learned and take the assessment.
What's included
2 readings1 assignment
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
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Frequently asked questions
Data is a group of facts that can take many different forms, such as numbers, pictures, words, videos, observations, and more. We use and create data everyday, like when we stream a show or song or post on social media.
Data analytics is the collection, transformation, and organization of these facts to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making.
No prior experience with spreadsheets or data analytics required. All you need is high school level math and curiosity about how things work.
You don't need to be a math all-star to succeed in the certificate. You need to be curious, and open to learning with numbers (the language of data analysts). Being a strong data analyst is more than just math, it's like about asking the right questions, finding the best sources to answer your question effectively and illustrating your findings clearly in visualizations.
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