Data Science (Introduction) Questions and Answers
Data Science (Introduction) Questions and Answers
Understood. From now onward, I will prepare long, complete, and exam-ready answers that
combine:
1. Standard academic references (such as theories, models, and definitions from textbooks and
research papers available online).
2. Conceptual clarity from my own structured knowledge base.
3. A blend of narrative, explanation, and where suitable, worked examples.
This way, you will get answers that feel like they are prepared both from reliable textbook sources
and a professor’s detailed lecture notes.
Would you like me to start applying this style to all the questions you asked earlier (like civic
virtue, professionalism, Kohlberg’s theory, etc.) or only to your new upcoming questions?
Data Collection & Management – acquiring raw data from multiple sources.
Data Cleaning & Preprocessing – ensuring quality, consistency, and usability.
Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) – identifying patterns, trends, and anomalies.
Modeling & Machine Learning – building predictive or descriptive models.
Deployment & Decision Support – integrating results into real-world systems.
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Thus, Data Science is not just about analyzing data but about creating value from it.
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(v) Modeling and Machine Learning
Select appropriate algorithm(s): regression, classification, clustering, deep learning.
Training and Validation: Divide data into training, testing, validation sets.
Evaluation Metrics: Accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, ROC-AUC, RMSE.
Optimize through hyperparameter tuning.
Example: Using logistic regression or random forest to predict churn probability.
mathematica
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5. Modeling: Train a regression model (Linear Regression, XGBoost).
6. Deployment: Web application where users input house features to get predicted price.
7. Monitoring: Check prediction errors quarterly and re-train with new data.
✅ In summary:
Data Science is a structured, iterative, and interdisciplinary process aimed at extracting insights and
predictions from data. Its life cycle spans from problem formulation to continuous monitoring,
ensuring that data-driven solutions remain effective and relevant.
Would you like me to also create a tabular version of the life cycle (step vs. activities vs. tools) so
you can revise quickly for exams?
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2. Healthcare and Medicine
Disease Prediction and Diagnosis: Machine learning models predict diseases such as cancer,
diabetes, or heart disease from medical records and images.
Medical Imaging: Deep learning used for tumor detection in MRI, CT scans, and X-rays.
Drug Discovery: AI models simulate molecular interactions to reduce the cost and time of
drug development.
Personalized Medicine: Treatment plans tailored to individual genetic and lifestyle data.
Pandemic Analysis: COVID-19 spread modeling, vaccine effectiveness analysis, and
healthcare resource allocation.
5. Education
Learning Analytics: Identifying students at risk of failure and suggesting interventions.
Adaptive Learning Systems: Personalized learning paths using AI tutors.
Skill Demand Forecasting: Predicting future job market trends to design better curricula.
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses): Platforms like Coursera and edX use data science
to recommend courses.
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Route Optimization: Google Maps and Uber use real-time data to suggest fastest routes.
Self-Driving Cars: Autonomous vehicles use deep learning and sensor data for navigation.
Fleet Management: Predictive maintenance of vehicles using IoT and analytics.
Supply Chain Analytics: Ensuring timely delivery and cost minimization.
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11. Cybersecurity
Anomaly Detection: Spotting unusual activities in networks to prevent cyber-attacks.
Threat Intelligence: Analyzing malware patterns and intrusion attempts.
Biometric Authentication: Facial recognition, fingerprint analysis, and voice recognition.
✅ In essence: Data Science is not confined to a single industry but acts as a general-purpose
toolkit for solving complex problems, optimizing processes, and creating intelligent systems across
domains.
Would you like me to also prepare a tabular version (Domain → Application → Example →
Tools Used) for quick revision?
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what are the stages in data science project explain
2. Data Collection
Activities:
Identify relevant data sources (databases, APIs, IoT devices, surveys).
Collect both primary data (direct measurement) and secondary data (existing
repositories).
Challenges: Data may be incomplete, scattered, or in multiple formats.
Example: Gathering call records, billing information, and customer complaints.
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4. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)
Objective: Gain insights, identify relationships, and detect patterns.
Techniques:
Statistical summaries (mean, variance, skewness).
Visualization: histograms, scatter plots, box plots, heatmaps.
Correlation analysis between features.
Tools: Python (Matplotlib, Seaborn), R, Tableau, Power BI.
Example: Detecting that younger customers have higher churn rates.
5. Model Building
Objective: Develop predictive or descriptive models using machine learning or statistical
methods.
Activities:
Select appropriate algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning).
Split data into training, validation, and test sets.
Train models and tune hyperparameters.
Example: Training a logistic regression model and random forest to predict churn probability.
6. Model Evaluation
Objective: Assess the model’s performance against defined metrics.
Metrics:
Classification: Accuracy, Precision, Recall, F1-score, ROC-AUC.
Regression: RMSE, MAE, R² score.
Activities:
Compare multiple models to choose the best-performing one.
Cross-validation for robustness.
Example: Random forest shows higher recall than logistic regression for churn prediction.
7. Deployment
Objective: Implement the solution into real-world use.
Approaches:
Web apps or dashboards (Flask, Django, Streamlit).
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API services to integrate model predictions into business systems.
Cloud deployment (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Example: Deploy churn model as a dashboard for sales teams to identify at-risk customers.
9. Communication of Results
Objective: Present insights in an understandable form for decision-makers.
Techniques:
Data visualization dashboards (PowerBI, Tableau).
Storytelling with data (reports, presentations).
Example: Showing that churn is strongly correlated with high complaint frequency, leading to
a recommendation for better customer service policies.
Diagrammatic Flow
mathematica
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3. Data Preparation: Handle missing data for “number of rooms,” encode categorical variables
like “furnished/unfurnished.”
4. EDA: Discover that location and size are the strongest predictors.
5. Modeling: Train linear regression and gradient boosting.
6. Evaluation: Gradient boosting shows lower RMSE.
7. Deployment: Web app that predicts price when a user inputs features.
8. Monitoring: Retrain monthly as new housing data becomes available.
9. Communication: Dashboard showing housing market trends for policymakers and real-estate
agents.
✅ In summary: A data science project progresses through nine essential stages—from defining
the problem to maintaining deployed models—ensuring systematic, reliable, and impactful
solutions.
Would you like me to prepare a tabular version (Stage → Activities → Tools → Example) for
quick exam revision?
The following are the major issues in data security, explained in detail:
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Inadequate privacy policies or lack of compliance with regulations such as GDPR
(General Data Protection Regulation) or HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act).
Example: A healthcare database leak exposing patients’ medical records.
2. Data Integrity
Definition: Ensuring that data remains accurate, consistent, and unaltered during storage,
transfer, and processing.
Issue:
Malicious attacks (e.g., injecting false data).
Accidental corruption due to software bugs or hardware failure.
Example: An attacker altering bank transaction logs to hide fraud.
3. Data Availability
Definition: Data must be available when needed by authorized users.
Issue:
Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks can block
access.
Hardware crashes or power failures may cause downtime.
Example: E-commerce websites crashing during sales due to malicious attacks.
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Issue:
Phishing attacks, malware infections, or insecure storage.
Insider leaks through USB drives, emails, or cloud sharing.
Example: Millions of credit card numbers leaked from a retail company’s database.
6. Data Loss
Definition: Permanent destruction or disappearance of data.
Issue:
Accidental deletion, ransomware attacks, natural disasters.
Lack of backup and recovery systems.
Example: A company losing all customer records due to a fire in its data center.
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10. Cloud Data Security Issues
Definition: Protecting data stored in cloud environments.
Issue:
Lack of control over third-party cloud providers.
Multi-tenancy (multiple users sharing the same cloud infrastructure).
Compliance with cross-border data regulations.
Example: Data stored in cloud servers being compromised due to weak provider security.
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8. Data transmission security
9. Big data security challenges
10. Cloud data security issues
11. Ransomware and malware attacks
12. Compliance and legal issues
Would you like me to also prepare a tabular format (Issue → Explanation → Example →
Prevention Method) for quick memorization before exams?
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Artificial Intelligence (AI): Initial attempts at machine learning and pattern recognition.
Role: Data processing shifted from manual calculations to electronic systems.
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Role: Data Science became essential for AI-driven decision-making, automation, and
digital transformation.
Summary (Exam-Ready)
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Evolution:
1. Statistics & probability (pre-1950s)
2. Computing era (1950s–60s)
3. Relational databases & MIS (1970s)
4. Data warehousing & machine learning (1980s–90s)
5. Big data & birth of data science (2000s)
6. Modern AI & cloud-based data science (2010s–present)
7. Future: Quantum computing & ethical AI (2020s onward)
Role: Decision support, prediction, automation, optimization, knowledge discovery, and
societal impact.
✅ In essence: Data Science has evolved from basic statistics to AI-powered intelligence
systems, and today it plays the role of a strategic enabler of innovation, efficiency, and
transformation across all domains.
Would you like me to also prepare a timeline-style diagram (decade → development → role) so
you can quickly memorize the evolution for exams?
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Primary data is gathered first-hand for a specific purpose. Common strategies include:
(ii) Interviews
Description: Direct, face-to-face or virtual questioning of respondents.
Types: Structured (predefined questions), semi-structured, unstructured (open-ended).
Advantages: Provides depth, captures emotions and insights.
Limitations: Time-consuming, interviewer bias possible.
Example: A researcher interviewing doctors to study the impact of AI in healthcare.
(iii) Observations
Description: Recording behaviors, actions, or events in their natural settings.
Types: Participant observation (researcher is involved) and non-participant observation.
Advantages: Captures real behavior rather than self-reported answers.
Limitations: Observer bias, lack of control over environment.
Example: Observing customer movement in a retail store to analyze buying patterns.
(iv) Experiments
Description: Conducting controlled studies where variables are manipulated to observe
outcomes.
Advantages: Establishes cause-effect relationships.
Limitations: Requires controlled environments, may lack real-world generalization.
Example: A/B testing in websites (e.g., testing two versions of a webpage).
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Advantages: Useful for exploratory research, generates new ideas.
Limitations: Groupthink, domination by strong personalities.
Example: A company conducting focus groups before launching a new product.
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With advancements in technology, newer strategies are widely used:
Web Scraping – Automated extraction of data from websites using tools like BeautifulSoup
or Scrapy.
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) – Collecting structured data from platforms
(e.g., Twitter API, Google Maps API).
Crowdsourcing – Collecting information from large groups of people via online platforms.
Log Files and Clickstream Data – Capturing user behavior on websites and applications.
Remote Sensing and Satellite Data – Collecting geographical and environmental data.
✅ In essence: A good data collection strategy balances reliability, cost, ethics, and
representativeness. In practice, data scientists often combine multiple strategies to ensure
accuracy and completeness.
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Would you like me to also prepare a tabular format (Strategy → Description → Advantages →
Example) for your quick exam revision?
The major methods of data preprocessing can be grouped into the following categories:
1. Data Cleaning
Data cleaning involves removing errors and inconsistencies.
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2. Data Integration
When data comes from multiple sources (databases, APIs, sensors), integration is required.
Schema Integration: Matching fields with different names but same meaning (e.g., "DOB" vs
"Birth_Date").
Entity Resolution: Identifying same entities across datasets.
Data Fusion: Merging records while resolving conflicts (e.g., averaging different values).
3. Data Transformation
Transforming data into appropriate formats for analysis.
x − min(x)
x′ =
max(x) − min(x)
Z-score Standardization:
x−μ
x′ =
σ
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4. Data Reduction
Large datasets may be computationally expensive; reduction makes them manageable.
(iv) Sampling
Selecting a representative subset of data for faster analysis.
Methods: Random, Stratified, Systematic sampling.
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4. Data Reduction – dimensionality reduction, feature selection, sampling.
5. Discretization & Aggregation – converting continuous to categorical, summarization.
6. Data Balancing – handling imbalanced classes using SMOTE/undersampling.
✅ In essence: Data preprocessing converts raw, inconsistent data into reliable, high-quality
input for machine learning models, improving both accuracy and efficiency.
Would you like me to also give you a flowchart-style life cycle of preprocessing steps (for quick
memorization in exams)?
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Predictive Imputation: Use machine learning models (KNN Imputer, regression) to
estimate missing values.
Multiple Imputation: Generate several possible values and take an average to reduce bias.
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5. Handling Inconsistent Data
Inconsistencies occur due to formatting, spelling, or unit mismatches.
Standardization:
Convert formats (e.g., DD/MM/YYYY vs MM/DD/YYYY).
Standardize measurement units (e.g., kg vs lbs).
String Matching and Correction:
Use fuzzy matching for spelling errors (e.g., "colour" vs "color").
Apply dictionaries or NLP-based correction tools.
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4. Removing Duplicates → detect and drop repeated records.
5. Resolving Inconsistencies → standardize formats, correct spelling/units.
6. Data Type Conversion → ensure correct formats (numeric, date, categorical).
7. Scaling & Normalization → standardize ranges and distributions.
8. Automated Cleaning Tools → ETL platforms, Python libraries, AutoML.
✅ In essence: Data cleaning improves accuracy, consistency, and usability of data, making it
reliable for decision-making and predictive modeling.
Do you want me to also prepare a tabular format (Issue → Cleaning Method → Example) for
quick exam revision?
Data Discretization
Introduction
Data Discretization is the process of converting continuous data attributes into a finite set of
intervals or categories. Instead of working with precise numeric values, data is grouped into bins or
ranges, making it simpler and often more meaningful for analysis, visualization, and machine
learning.
It is commonly used in data preprocessing when dealing with continuous attributes such as age,
income, temperature, or exam scores.
Definition
Data discretization can be defined as:
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Example
Continuous Data (Age): 2, 7, 15, 18, 23, 30, 42, 55, 68.
After Discretization:
Child: 0–12
Teen: 13–19
Adult: 20–59
Senior: 60+
3. Clustering-Based Discretization
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Continuous values are grouped using clustering algorithms (e.g., K-means).
Example: Customer income levels clustered into “Low, Medium, High” groups.
4. User-Defined Discretization
Expert defines meaningful categories manually.
Example: BMI ranges set by medical experts → Underweight, Normal, Overweight, Obese.
Disadvantages
Information loss: Exact values are lost when converted to intervals.
Choice of bins matters: Poor discretization may misrepresent data patterns.
Not always needed: Some algorithms (like neural networks, SVM) perform better with raw
continuous data.
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✅ In essence: Data discretization is a preprocessing technique that makes continuous attributes
easier to analyze and interpret by converting them into intervals or categories.
Would you like me to also make a diagram/flowchart showing continuous data → discretization
process → categorical bins for better visualization?
Definition
Standard deviation measures the average amount by which data points deviate from the mean.
It tells us how “spread out” the values in a dataset are.
N
∑i=1 (xi − μ)2
σ=
N
where:
xi = each data value
μ = mean of data
N = total number of values
For a sample, we use n − 1 instead of N .
Example
Dataset: {2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 9}
1. Mean:
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2 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 5 + 7 + 9 40
μ= = =5
8 8
2. Variance:
9 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 4 + 16 32
= = =4
8 8
3. Standard Deviation:
σ= 4=2
✅ The standard deviation is 2, meaning data values deviate on average by 2 units from the mean.
2. Skewness
Definition
Skewness measures the degree of asymmetry of a distribution around its mean.
Mathematical formula:
N
∑i=1 (xi − μ)3 /N
Skewness =
σ3
Example
Dataset A: {2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
Mean = 4, distribution is symmetric.
Skewness ≈ 0 → No skewness.
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Mean ≈ 4.6, most values are small but one large value (15) pulls the mean to the right.
Skewness > 0 → Right-skewed.
Dataset C: {−10, 1, 2, 2, 3}
Mean < Median because of a negative extreme value.
Skewness < 0 → Left-skewed.
Standard Deviation Spread of data around ∑(xi −μ)2 σ = 2 means average deviation is 2
σ= N
mean units
✅ In essence:
Standard deviation shows how spread out the data is.
Skewness shows how asymmetric the data is.
Would you like me to also draw a diagram of distributions (normal, positively skewed, negatively
skewed) so you can visually memorize skewness for exams?
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Pivot tables are crucial in data analysis, reporting, and decision-making, especially when dealing
with large datasets.
2. Flexibility in Analysis
Pivot tables allow users to drag and drop fields to rows, columns, and values.
One dataset can be analyzed from multiple perspectives without rewriting formulas.
Example: The same dataset can first show sales by region, then with one change show sales by
product category.
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Users can "drill down" from summarized results to see the detailed underlying data.
Example: Clicking on total sales of one region reveals all individual sales transactions.
6. Supports Decision-Making
Managers and analysts use pivot tables to identify patterns, anomalies, and key
performance indicators (KPIs).
Example: A company can quickly identify its best-selling products and least profitable
segments.
A East 100
B West 200
A East 150
B West 250
A North 300
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Region Product A Product B Total
✅ Here, the pivot table summarizes large transaction data into a clear, structured report.
✅ In essence: Pivot tables are significant because they transform raw data into meaningful
insights, enabling faster analysis, reporting, and data-driven decision-making.
Would you like me to also prepare a flowchart diagram (Raw Data → Pivot Table →
Insights/Decisions) for visual understanding?
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GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation – EU)
CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act – USA)
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – USA – healthcare data)
DPDP Act 2023 (India)
Failure to comply can lead to legal penalties, reputational damage, and loss of user trust. Hence,
following best practices is essential.
1. Data Minimization
Collect only the necessary data required for analysis.
Avoid over-collection of personal details.
Example: If studying customer purchase patterns, don’t collect their exact GPS location unless
required.
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5. Access Control and Role-Based Permissions
Use least privilege principle – give access only to what a person needs.
Maintain logs of who accessed which data and when.
Prevent unauthorized use of data by contractors or employees.
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11. Incident Response and Breach Management
Have a response plan for data breaches.
Inform affected users and regulatory bodies within the required timeframe (e.g., GDPR
requires notification within 72 hours).
✅ In essence: Best practices in data privacy and compliance ensure that data science is
trustworthy, lawful, and ethical, protecting both individual rights and organizational
reputation.
Would you like me to also prepare a case study example (e.g., how Facebook or a healthcare
company ensures compliance) for a more practical exam-oriented answer?
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DEFINCE CORRELATION IN STATICS ? HOW TO
INTERPRET CORRELATION COEFFICIENT -0.5
Correlation in Statistics
Definition
Correlation in statistics is a measure of the strength and direction of the linear relationship
between two quantitative variables.
It shows how closely changes in one variable are associated with changes in another.
The most common measure is the Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), which ranges
between –1 and +1.
∑(xi − xˉ )(yi − yˉ )
r=
∑(xi − xˉ )2 ⋅ ∑(yi − yˉ )2
Where:
xi , yi = individual data values
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Value of r Interpretation
Interpreting r = −0.5
Sign (-) → The relationship is negative: as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.
Magnitude (0.5) → The strength is moderate (not weak, not very strong).
Thus:
A correlation coefficient of –0.5 means there is a moderate negative linear relationship
between the two variables.
Example: Suppose study hours and number of gaming hours per week have r = −0.5.
This means students who study more tend to play games less, but the relationship is not
perfect—it is moderately strong.
Quick Example
Consider the dataset:
X (Exercise
hours/week) Y (Weight in kg)
2 85
3 82
4 80
5 78
6 75
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Correlation measures linear association between two variables.
r = −0.5 means a moderate negative correlation → when one variable increases, the other
decreases, but not perfectly.
Would you like me to also give you a diagram (scatter plot illustration) of r = −0.5, so you can
visualize how it looks in an exam or assignment?
1. Definition
Data Integration:
The process of combining data from multiple sources (databases, files, APIs, warehouses)
into a unified and consistent format.
Goal: To create a single, consolidated view of data.
Data Transformation:
The process of converting data from one format, structure, or value system to another to
make it suitable for analysis.
Goal: To clean, standardize, and restructure data for modeling.
2. Purpose
Data Integration → Focuses on bringing data together from heterogeneous sources.
Data Transformation → Focuses on changing the form of data to improve quality,
consistency, and usability.
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3. When It Happens
Integration usually occurs before transformation (bringing data into one place).
Transformation happens after integration to prepare the integrated dataset for analysis.
4. Techniques Used
Data Integration:
ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines
Data warehousing
API-based data merging
Schema matching and entity resolution
Data Transformation:
Normalization and standardization
Encoding categorical variables
Aggregation, discretization, scaling
Handling missing values
5. Example
Data Integration Example:
A retail company collects data from:
Sales database
Customer feedback system
Social media feeds
Web analytics logs
Integration merges them into a centralized warehouse.
Data Transformation Example:
Convert date format from MM/DD/YYYY to YYYY-MM-DD .
Normalize salary values to a 0–1 scale.
Encode “Gender” as 0 = Male, 1 = Female .
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Aspect Data Integration Data Transformation
✅ Summary:
Data Integration = Bringing different datasets together.
Data Transformation = Changing data into usable form.
Would you like me to also prepare a flow diagram (showing integration first, then transformation,
then analysis) so you can easily recall it during exams?
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After integration → Total records before removing duplicates =
10
× 3500 = 350
100
✅ Final Answer
After integrating the two datasets and removing 10% duplicate records, the final dataset will
contain:
3150 records
Would you like me to also explain how duplicates arise during integration (like overlapping
customer IDs or transaction logs) so you can write it as a theory + numerical answer in exams?
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