Book Image

CompTIA Data+: DAO-001 Certification Guide

By : Cameron Dodd
Book Image

CompTIA Data+: DAO-001 Certification Guide

By: Cameron Dodd

Overview of this book

The CompTIA Data+ certification exam not only helps validate a skill set required to enter one of the fastest-growing fields in the world, but also is starting to standardize the language and concepts within the field. However, there’s a lot of conflicting information and a lack of existing resources about the topics covered in this exam, and even professionals working in data analytics may need a study guide to help them pass on their first attempt. The CompTIA Data + (DAO-001) Certification Guide will give you a solid understanding of how to prepare, analyze, and report data for better insights. You’ll get an introduction to Data+ certification exam format to begin with, and then quickly dive into preparing data. You'll learn about collecting, cleaning, and processing data along with data wrangling and manipulation. As you progress, you’ll cover data analysis topics such as types of analysis, common techniques, hypothesis techniques, and statistical analysis, before tackling data reporting, common visualizations, and data governance. All the knowledge you've gained throughout the book will be tested with the mock tests that appear in the final chapters. By the end of this book, you’ll be ready to pass the Data+ exam with confidence and take the next step in your career.
Table of Contents (24 chapters)
1
Part 1: Preparing Data
7
Part 2: Analyzing Data
13
Part 3: Reporting Data
19
Part 4: Mock Exams

Utilizing public sources of data

There are all kinds of datasets available for free. With these, collecting data is as simple as asking for it and downloading it. There are all sorts of information out there on any number of topics, free for anyone to use. Some of these free sources are even already clean and organized, just waiting for an analysis to be run.

Public databases

Public databases are databases that legally must be accessible. These fall into one of two categories: government or industry. The majority of public databases are run by government entities. These can be found around the world, sometimes at local and national levels. What information is specifically shared depends on the government entity, but can include information about the following:

  • Population
  • Agriculture
  • Utilities
  • Public health concerns

The downside to government-run databases is that, while they are free, they are usually full of missing data and mistakes. This means that...