Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, 2nd Edition

Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, 2nd Edition

by Glenn J. Myatt, Wayne P. Johnson
Released August 2014
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781118407417

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Book description

Praise for the First Edition

"...a well-written book on data analysis and data mining that provides an excellent foundation..."

—CHOICE

"This is a must-read book for learning practical statistics and data analysis..."

—Computing Reviews.com

A proven go-to guide for data analysis, Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, Second Edition focuses on basic data analysis approaches that are necessary to make timely and accurate decisions in a diverse range of projects. Based on the authors' practical experience in implementing data analysis and data mining, the new edition provides clear explanations that guide readers from almost every field of study.

In order to facilitate the needed steps when handling a data analysis or data mining project, a step-by-step approach aids professionals in carefully analyzing data and implementing results, leading to the development of smarter business decisions. The tools to summarize and interpret data in order to master data analysis are integrated throughout, and the Second Edition also features:

  • Updated exercises for both manual and computer-aided implementation with accompanying worked examples

  • New appendices with coverage on the freely available Traceis" software, including tutorials using data from a variety of disciplines such as the social sciences, engineering, and finance

  • New topical coverage on multiple linear regression and logistic regression to provide a range of widely used and transparent approaches

  • Additional real-world examples of data preparation to establish a practical background for making decisions from data

    • Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, Second Edition is an excellent reference for researchers and professionals who need to achieve effective decision making from data. The Second Edition is also an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate-level courses in data analysis and data mining and is appropriate for cross-disciplinary courses found within computer science and engineering departments.

    Table of contents

    1. PREFACE
    2. 1 INTRODUCTION
      1. 1.1 Overview
      2. 1.2 Sources of Data
      3. 1.3 Process for Making Sense of Data
      4. 1.4 Overview of Book
      5. 1.5 Summary
      6. Further Reading
    3. 2 DESCRIBING DATA
      1. 2.1 Overview
      2. 2.2 Observations and Variables
      3. 2.3 Types of Variables
      4. 2.4 Central Tendency
      5. 2.5 Distribution of the Data
      6. 2.6 Confidence Intervals
      7. 2.7 Hypothesis Tests
      8. Exercises
      9. Further Reading
    4. 3 PREPARING DATA TABLES
      1. 3.1 Overview
      2. 3.2 Cleaning the Data
      3. 3.3 Removing Observations and Variables
      4. 3.4 Generating Consistent Scales Across Variables
      5. 3.5 New Frequency Distribution
      6. 3.6 Converting Text to Numbers
      7. 3.7 Converting Continuous Data to Categories
      8. 3.8 Combining Variables
      9. 3.9 Generating Groups
      10. 3.10 Preparing Unstructured Data
      11. Exercises
      12. Further Reading
    5. 4 UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS
      1. 4.1 Overview
      2. 4.2 Visualizing Relationships Between Variables
      3. 4.3 Calculating Metrics About Relationships
      4. Exercises
      5. Further Reading
    6. 5 IDENTIFYING AND UNDERSTANDING GROUPS
      1. 5.1 Overview
      2. 5.2 Clustering
      3. 5.3 Association Rules
      4. 5.4 Learning Decision Trees from Data
      5. Exercises
      6. Further Reading
    7. 6 BUILDING MODELS FROM DATA
      1. 6.1 Overview
      2. 6.2 Linear Regression
      3. 6.3 Logistic Regression
      4. 6.4 K-Nearest Neighbors
      5. 6.5 Classification and Regression Trees
      6. 6.6 Other Approaches
      7. Exercises
      8. Further Reading
    8. APPENDIX A ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
    9. APPENDIX B HANDS-ON TUTORIALS
      1. B.1 Tutorial Overview
      2. B.2 Access and Installation
      3. B.3 Software Overview
      4. B.4 Reading in Data
      5. B.5 Preparation Tools
      6. B.6 Tables and Graph Tools
      7. B.7 Statistics Tools
      8. B.8 Grouping Tools
      9. B.9 Models Tools
      10. B.10 Apply Model
      11. B.11 Exercises
    10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
    11. INDEX
    12. END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

    Product information

    • Title: Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, 2nd Edition
    • Author(s): Glenn J. Myatt, Wayne P. Johnson
    • Release date: August 2014
    • Publisher(s): Wiley
    • ISBN: 9781118407417