Data analysis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Computational physics
Numerical analysis · Simulation

Data analysis · Visualization
This box: view • talk • edit

Data analysis is the process of looking at and summarizing data with the intent to extract useful information and develop conclusions. Data analysis is closely related to Data mining, but data mining tends to focus on larger data sets, with less emphasis on making inference, and often uses data that was originally collected for a different purpose. In statistical applications, some people divide data analysis into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis and confirmatory data analysis, where the EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data, and CDA on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses.

Data analysis assumes different aspects, and possibly different names, in different fields.

The term data analysis is also used as a synonym for data modeling, which is unrelated to the subject of this article.

Contents

[edit] Nuclear and particle physics

In nuclear and particle physics the data usually originate from the experimental apparatus via a Data acquisition system. It is then processed, in a step usually called data reduction, to apply calibrations and to extract physically significant information. Data reduction is most often, especially in large particle physics experiments, an automatic, batch-mode operation carried out by software written ad-hoc. The resulting data n-tuples are then scrutinized by the physicists, using specialized software tools like ROOT or PAW, comparing the results of the experiment with theory.

The theoretical models are often difficult to compare directly with the results of the experiments, so they are used instead as input for Monte Carlo simulation software like Geant4 that predict the response of the detector to a given theoretical event, producing simulated events which are then compared to experimental data.

See also: Computational physics.

[edit] Social sciences

Qualitative data analysis (QDA) or qualitative research is the analysis of non-numerical data, for example words, photographs, observations, etc..

[edit] Information technology

A special case is the data analysis in information technology audits.

[edit] Business

See

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

  • Michael S. Lewis-Beck, Data Analysis: an Introduction, Sage Publications Inc, 1995, ISBN 0803957726
  • Pyzdek, T, "Quality Engineering Handbook", 2003, ISBN 0824746147
  • Godfrey, A. B., "Juran's Quality Handbook", 1999, ISBN 007034003
  • "Engineering Statistics Handbook", NIST/SEMATEK, [1]
  • "Manual on Presentation of Data and Control Chart Analysis", ASTM MNL 7, 1990, ISBN:0-8031-1189-0