Data Analysis and Reporting Flashcards

Which chart type is most appropriate for showing the proportion of parts to a whole?

Answer: Pie chart

A pie chart divides a circle into slices proportional to each category's share of the total, making it ideal for showing percentage breakdowns when there are a limited number of categories.

In spreadsheet software, which function calculates the average of a range of cells?

Answer: AVERAGE

The AVERAGE function in spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel calculates the arithmetic mean (sum divided by count) of a selected range of numeric cells.

What is a 'dashboard' in the context of business data reporting?

Answer: A visual display that consolidates key performance indicators and metrics in a single, easy-to-read interface

A business dashboard is a data visualization tool that aggregates and displays key metrics, KPIs, and status indicators in a single view, enabling quick assessment of organizational performance.

When analyzing data, what does 'data cleaning' refer to?

Answer: The process of identifying and correcting errors, duplicates, and inconsistencies in a dataset

Data cleaning (or data cleansing) involves reviewing a dataset to find and fix errors such as missing values, duplicates, misspellings, incorrect formats, and other inconsistencies that would compromise analysis accuracy.

Which of the following best describes a 'key performance indicator' (KPI)?

Answer: A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively an organization is achieving a key business objective

A KPI is a quantifiable measure used to evaluate the success of an organization, department, or individual in achieving specific, pre-defined objectives over time.

In data analysis, what does 'sorting' data mean?

Answer: Arranging data in a specified order such as ascending or descending by a selected column

Sorting arranges all rows in a dataset in order based on the values in one or more columns — either from smallest to largest (ascending) or largest to smallest (descending).