Analytics provides you with a wide-ranging set of tools for working with data. Beginning with the import of data, Analytics gives you numerous options for progressing through the data analysis cycle.
Analytics does not impose or require any particular data analysis workflow. The commands, functions, and other tools in Analytics can be assembled into whatever workflow you arrive at for analyzing a particular data set and achieving your analysis objectives.
That said, understanding the general data analysis cycle can help you structure your work in Analytics.
The data analysis cycle
The data analysis cycle contains five stages, which are summarized by the acronym PIPAR:
Plan, Import, Prepare, Analyze, Report
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Planning your data analysis work is an important precursor to actually beginning the analysis in Analytics. Make sure to review Plan your work. |
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| Import the data | You must import data into Analytics before you can analyze it. |
| Prepare the data | Often you must perform one or more data preparation tasks before data is ready to analyze. |
| Analyze the data | You perform analysis in Analytics by using commands and other tools to gain general insights about the data you are investigating, and to answer specific questions. |
| Report the results | Once your data analysis is complete, Analytics gives you several different ways to report or present your results. |
Tip
To get an understanding of how the data analysis cycle can work in Analytics, do the introductory tutorial: Getting started with Analytics (non-Unicode edition)
