Introduction to data science

Many people ask me the biggest difference between data science and data analytics. While one can argue that there is no difference between the two, many will argue that there are hundreds! I believe that regardless of how many differences there are between the two terms, the biggest is that data science follows a structured, step-by-step process that, when followed, preserves the integrity of the results.

Like any other scientific endeavor, this process must be adhered to, or else the analysis and the results are in danger of scrutiny. On a simpler level, following a strict process can make it much easier for amateur data scientists to obtain results faster than if they were exploring data with no clear vision.

While these steps are a guiding lesson for amateur analysts, they also provide the foundation for all data scientists, even those in the highest levels of business and academia. Every data scientist recognizes the value of these steps and follows them...