Google Data Analytics Professional Certification Practice Test

What does the term "observation" refer to in data analysis?

1. Data that is analyzed for accuracy

2. The attributes that describe data in a table

3. A report of data trends

4. The process of drawing conclusions

The correct answer is: The attributes that describe data in a table

The term "observation" in data analysis specifically refers to the individual data points or entries that are collected during research or data gathering. These observations represent the actual recorded instances or measurements that reflect the behaviors, transactions, or attributes being analyzed. In a structured dataset, an observation corresponds to a single row in a table, where each row contains specific information pertinent to a particular entity or instance. For instance, in a dataset about customer purchases, each observation would represent a unique purchase, detailing aspects like the customer ID, purchase amount, and date. Therefore, defining observations as the elements that describe data aligns with this understanding of how data is organized within tables and datasets.