Week 1 – Effective questions
1. Structured thinking involves which of the following processes? Select all that apply.
- Revealing gaps and opportunities
- Recognizing the current problem or situation
- Organizing available information
- Asking SMART questions
2. A data analyst creates data visualizations and a slideshow. Which phase of the data analysis process does this describe?
- Prepare
- Act
- Share
- Process
3. A recycling center that sponsors a podcast about saving the environment is an example of what strategy?
- Defining the problem to be solved
- Making recommendations
- Staying on budget
- Trying to reach a target audience
4. A data analyst is working for a local power company. Recently, many new apartments have been built in the community, so the company wants to determine how much electricity it needs to produce for the new residents in the future. A data analyst uses data to help the company make a more informed forecast. This is an example of which problem type?
- Spotting something unusual
- Discovering connections
- Making predictions
- Identifying themes
5. Describe the key difference between the problem types of categorizing things and identifying themes.
- Categorizing things involves determining how items are different from each other. Identifying themes brings different items back together in a single group.
- Categorizing things involves assigning grades to items. Identifying themes involves creating new classifications for items.
- Categorizing things involves taking inventory of items. Identifying themes deals with creating labels for items.
- Categorizing things involves assigning items to categories. Identifying themes takes those categories a step further, grouping them into broader themes.
6. Which of the following examples are leading questions? Select all that apply.
- What do you enjoy most about our service?
- How did you learn about our company?
- In what ways did our product meet your needs?
- How satisfied were you with our customer representative?
7. The question, “Why don’t our employees complete their timesheets each Friday by noon?” is not action-oriented. Which of the following questions are action-oriented and more likely to lead to change? Select all that apply.
- What functionalities would make our timesheet web page more user-friendly?
- What features could we add to our calendar app as a weekly timesheet reminder to employees?
- How could we simplify the time-keeping process for our employees?
- Why don’t employees prioritize filling out their timesheets by noon on Fridays?
8. On a customer service questionnaire, a data analyst asks, “If you could contact our customer service department via chat, how much valuable time would that save you?” Why is this question unfair?
- It is closed-ended
- It uses slang words that not everyone can understand
- It is vague
- It makes assumptions
9. Organizing available information and revealing gaps and opportunities are part of what process?
- Identifying connections between two or more things
- Categorizing things
- Using structured thinking
- Applying the SMART methodology
10. The share phase of the data analysis process typically involves which of the following activities? Select all that apply.
- Summarizing results using data visualizations
- Communicating findings
- Creating a slideshow to present to stakeholders
- Putting analysis into action to solve a problem
11. A company wants to make more informed decisions regarding next year’s business strategy. An analyst uses data to help identify how things will likely work out in the future. This is an example of which problem type?
- Making predictions
- Spotting something unusual
- Identifying themes
- Discovering connections
12. Fill in the blank: Categorizing things involves assigning items to categories, whereas _____ takes those categories a step further, grouping them into broader classifications.
- Making predictions
- Finding patterns
- Discovering connections
- Identifying themes
13. Questions that make assumptions often involve concepts that are formed without evidence. An example of this is an idea that is accepted as true without proof.
- True
- False
14. A garden center wants to attract more customers. A data analyst in the marketing department suggests advertising in popular landscaping magazines. This is an example of what practice?
- Reaching your target audience
- Collecting customer information
- Monitoring social media feedback
- Developing a data analytics case study
15. Categorizing things involves assigning items to categories. Identifying themes takes those categories a step further, grouping them into broader themes or classifications.
- True
- False
16. Which of the following examples are closed-ended questions? Select all that apply.
- Is math your favorite subject?
- What grade did you get on the math test?
- How old are you?
- What are your thoughts about math?
17. The question, “How could we improve our website to simplify the returns process for our online customers?” is action-oriented.
- True
- False
18. Which of the following questions make assumptions? Select all that apply.
- Keeping employees engaged is important, isn’t it?
- Wouldn’t you agree that product A is better than product B?
- Did you get through to customer service?
- It must be frustrating waiting on hold for so long, right?
19. Structured thinking involves recognizing the current problem or situation you’re facing and identifying your options.
- True
- False
20. Which of the following examples are leading questions? Select all that apply.
- How satisfied were you with our customer representative?
- What do you enjoy most about our service?
- In what ways did our product meet your needs?
- How did you learn about our company?
21. On a customer service questionnaire, a data analyst asks, “If you could contact our customer service department via chat, how much valuable time would that save you?” Why is this question unfair?
- It is closed-ended
- It uses slang words that not everyone can understand
- It is vague
- It makes assumptions
22. Fill in the blank: To apply structured thinking, a data analyst should ______ the available information in order to reveal gaps and opportunities and recognize the current problem or situation.
- organize
- communicate
- share
- record
23. A national chain of sporting goods stores advertises during popular sporting television broadcasts. This is an example of the company doing what?
- Reaching its target audience
- Demonstrating its support for a sports team
- Defining the problem to be solved
- Monitoring social feedback
24. In data analysis, categorizing things involves which of the following?
- Creating new classifications for items and assigning grades to items
- Assigning items to categories
- Taking an inventory of items
- Determining how items are different from each other
25. The question, “Why was the Monday afternoon yoga class successful?” is not measurable. Which of the following questions presents a measurable way to learn about the yoga class?
- Why do people like taking yoga classes on Mondays?
- How many customers responded to our recent half-price yoga promotion?
- Is yoga a great way to stretch and strengthen your body?
- Do yoga instructors seem more energetic at the beginning of the week?
26. Why should a data analyst only ask fair questions?
- Unfair questions do not have answers.
- Unfair questions can provide data that is misleading.
- Fair questions are biased.
- Fair questions do not offend people.
27. In the share step of the data analysis process, a data analyst summarizes their results using data visualizations and creates a slideshow to present to stakeholders. What else might they do in this step?
- Collect data.
- Communicate findings.
- Organize the available information
- Shred paper files.
28. If a cooking supply store wants to attract more customers, where can they advertise to better reach their target audience? Select all that apply.
- On TV during the season finale of The Best Chef in the Universe
- At a bus stop near a local culinary school
- On a podcast for foodies
- In a magazine all about advertising
29. Making predictions is one of the six data analytics problem types. How does data factor into such problem types?
- The data informs the predictions.
- The data confirms the decisions.
- The data are the predictions.
- The predictions validate the data.
30. Which of the following examples are closed-ended questions? Select all that apply.
- How tall are you?
- What did you think about the article that I sent you?
- What is your opinion of the new movie?
- Have you taken this class before?
31. What is the defining characteristic of measurable questions?
- They are questions that have numbers in them.
- Their answers are numbers that can be interpreted qualitatively.
- They are questions that use numbers as categories.
- Their answers are numbers that can be interpreted mathematically.
32. Fill in the blank: “How many people filled out the survey?” is an example of a question that is _____ in the context of data analysis.
- categorical
- symbolic
- measureable
- qualitative
33. Fill in the blank: In the _____ step of the data analysis process, an analyst would create visualizations to summarize their results.
- process
- share
- prepare
- act
34. A community college wishes to share information about their new career technical degrees. Who are likely examples of their target audience? Select all that apply.
- Students newly enrolled at a state university
- People who are happy with their current jobs
- People looking for a career change
- Students who just graduated high school
35. A restaurant is considering offering a delivery option for its customers. They use data to forecast the demand for this service. This is an example of which problem type?
- Spotting something unusual
- Identifying themes
- Discovering connections
- Making predictions
36. Fill in the blank: The question, “How could we improve our website to simplify the returns process for our online customers?” is _____-oriented.
- action
- passive
- data
- bias
37. Why is reaching your target audience important in data analysis?
- It brings awareness of your products to potential customers.
- It makes your products easier to use for your customers.
- It improves customer service for those currently using your products.
- It increases the effectiveness of your services for customers.
38. Making predictions is one of the six data analytics problem types. It deals with using data to inform decisions about how things might be in the future. Select the scenario that’s an example of making predictions.
- A data analyst at a gas company uses historical data to analyze a fluctuation in gas usage.
- A data analyst at a school system uses data to make a connection between home sales and new student enrollment.
- A data analyst at a shoe retailer uses data to inform the marketing plan for an upcoming summer sale.
- A data analyst at a technology company uses data to identify a unique drop in social media engagement.
39. Fill in the blank: Questions that make assumptions or suggest that a given answer is correct are examples of _____ questions.
- unbiased
- fair
- wrong
- unfair
40. In structured thinking, why would a data analyst organize the available information?
- To recognize the current problem or situation
- To consult with subject matter experts
- To ask SMART questions
- To summarize results using data visualizations
41. While creating data visualizations for a slideshow, a data analyst considers, “What would help a stakeholder understand this data better?” The analyst is in the analyze step of the data analysis process.
- True
- False
42. In data analysis, identifying themes involves which of the following?
- Creating new classifications for items
- Grouping categories into broader themes
- Creating labels for items
- Bringing different items back together in a single group