What is Data Analysis?

The field was formally defined by statistician John Tukey in 1961. He established the machinery of mathematical statistics and procedural planning required to analyze data accurately.

Predictive analytics uses statistical models to forecast trends, while text analytics extracts information from unstructured sources to classify data.

Data analysis encompasses diverse techniques across business, science, and social science. It transforms raw inputs into meaningful outputs that support predictive and descriptive goals.

Data analysis is critical for modern operations, driving advancements in artificial intelligence, healthcare, and business intelligence. It allows for evidence-based decision-making in large-scale systems.

The framework includes data collection, preparation, modeling, and visualization. Analysts use tools like Hadoop or Spark to process large datasets, applying descriptive and inferential statistics to identify correlations and causal relationships.