Welcome to the third course in the Google Data Analytics Certificate!

So far, you have been introduced to

the field of data analytics and discovered how data analysts can use their skills to answer business
questions.

As a data analyst, you need to be an expert at structuring, extracting, and making sure the data you are
working with is reliable. To do this, it is always best to develop a general idea of how all data is generated
and collected, since every organization structures data differently. Then, no matter what data structure you
are faced with in your new role, you will feel confident working with it.  

You will soon discover that when data is extracted, it isn’t perfect. It might be biased instead of credible, or
dirty instead of clean. Your goal is to learn how to analyze data for bias and credibility and to understand
what clean data means. You will also get up close and personal with databases and even get to extract your
own data from a database using spreadsheets and SQL. The last topics covered are the basics of data
organization and the process of protecting your data. 

And you will learn how to identify different types of data that can be used to understand and respond to a
business problem. In this part of the program, you will explore different types of data and data structures.
And best of all, you will keep adding to your data analyst tool box! From extracting and using data, to
organizing and protecting it, these key skills will come in handy no matter what you are doing in your career
as a data analyst.

Course content
Course 3 – Prepare Data for Exploration

1. Understanding data types and structures: We all generate lots of data in our daily lives. In this part of the
course, you will check out how we generate data and how analysts decide which data to collect for analysis.
You’ll also learn about structured and unstructured data, data types, and data formats as you start thinking
about how to prepare your data for exploration.
2. Understanding bias, credibility, privacy, ethics, and access: When data analysts work with data, they
always check that the data is unbiased and credible. In this part of the course, you will learn how to identify
different types of bias in data and how to ensure credibility in your data. You will also explore open data and
the relationship between and importance of data ethics and data privacy.
3. Databases: Where data lives: When you are analyzing data, you will access much of the data from a
database. It’s where data lives. In this part of the course, you will learn all about databases, including how to
access them and extract, filter, and sort the data they contain. You will also check out metadata to discover
the different types and how analysts use them.
4. Organizing and protecting your data: Good organization skills are a big part of most types of work, and
data analytics is no different. In this part of the course, you will learn the best practices for organizing data
and keeping it secure. You will also learn how analysts use file naming conventions to help them keep their
work organized.
5. Engaging in the data community (optional): Having a strong online presence can be a big help for job
seekers of all kinds. In this part of the course, you will explore how to manage your online presence. You will
also discover the benefits of networking with other data analytics professionals.
6. Completing the Course Challenge: At the end of this course, you will be able to apply what you have
learned in the Course Challenge. The Course Challenge will ask you questions about the key concepts and
then will give you an opportunity to put them into practice as you go through two scenarios.

What to expect
This part of the program is designed to get you familiar with different data structures and show you how to
collect, apply, organize, and protect data. All of these skills will be part of your daily tasks as an entry-level
data analyst. You will work on a wide range of activities that are similar to real-life tasks that data analysts
come across on a daily basis.

This course has five modules or weeks, and each has several lessons included. Within each lesson, you will
find content such as:

 Videos of instructors teaching new concepts and demonstrating the use of tools 
 In-video questions that pop up during or at the end of a video to check your learning
 Readings to introduce new ideas and build on the concepts from the videos
 Discussion forums to discuss, explore, and reinforce new ideas for better learning
 Discussion prompts to promote thinking and engagement in the discussion forums
 Hands-on activities to introduce real-world, on-the-job situations, and the tools and tasks to complete
assignments 
 Practice quizzes to prepare you for graded quizzes
 Graded quizzes to measure your progress and give you valuable feedback 
Hands-on activities promote additional opportunities to build your skills. Try to get as much out of them as
possible. Assessments are based on the approach taken by the course to offer a wide variety of learning
materials and activities that reinforce important skills. Graded and ungraded quizzes will help the content
sink in. Ungraded practice quizzes are a chance for you to prepare for the graded quizzes. Both types of
quizzes can be taken more than one time.

As a quick reminder, this course is designed for all types of learners, with no degree or prior experience
required. Everyone learns differently, so the Google Data Analytics Certificate has been designed with that in
mind. Personalized deadlines are just a guide, so feel free to work at your own pace. There is no penalty for
late assignments. If you prefer, you can extend your deadlines by returning to Overview in the navigation
pane and clicking Switch Sessions. If you already missed previous deadlines, click Reset my deadlines
instead.

If you would like to review previous content or get a sneak peek of upcoming content, you can use the
navigation links at the top of this page to go to another course in the program. When you pass all required
assignments, you will be on track to earn your certificate.

Optional speed track for those experienced in data analytics

The Google Data Analytics Certificate provides instruction and feedback for learners hoping to earn a
position as an entry-level data analyst. While many learners will be brand new to the world of data analytics,
others may be familiar with the field and simply wanting to brush up on certain skills. 
 If you believe this course will be primarily a refresher for you, we recommend taking the practice diagnostic
quiz offered this week. It will enable you to determine if you should follow the speed track, which is an
opportunity to proceed to Course 4 after having taken each of the Course 3 Weekly Challenges and the
overall Course Challenge. Learners who earn 100% on the diagnostic quiz can treat Course 3 videos,
readings, and activities as optional. Learners following the speed track are still able to earn the certificate.

Tips
 Do your best to complete all items in order. All new information builds on earlier learning.
 Treat every task as if it is real-world experience. Have a mindset that you are working at a company or in an
organization as a data analyst. This will help you apply what you learn in this program to the real world.
 Even though they aren’t graded, it is important to complete all practice items. They will help you build a
strong foundation as a data analyst and better prepare you for the graded assessments.
 Take advantage of all additional resources provided.
 When you encounter useful links in the course, remember to bookmark them so you can refer to the
information later for study or review.