Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Analysis and Mining

Praise for the First Edition . a well-written book on data analysis and data mining that provides an excellent foundation. CHOICE This is a must-read book for learning practical statistics and data analysis. Praise for the First Edition “...a well-written book on data analysis and data mining that provides an excellent foundation...” —CHOICE “This is a must-read book for learning practical statistics and data analysis...” —Computing Reviews.com A proven go-to guide for data analysis, Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, Second Edition focuses on basic data analysis approaches that are necessary to make timely and accurate decisions in a diverse range of projects. Based on the authors’ practical experience in implementing data analysis and data mining, the new edition provides clear explanations that guide readers from almost every field of study. In order to facilitate the needed steps when handling a data analysis or data mining project, a step-by-step approach aids professionals in carefully analyzing data and implementing results, leading to the development of smarter business decisions. The tools to summarize and interpret data in order to master data analysis are integrated throughout, and the Second Edition also features: Updated exercises for both manual and computer-aided implementation with accompanying worked examples New appendices with coverage on the freely available Traceis™ software, including tutorials using data from a variety of disciplines such as the social sciences, engineering, and finance New topical coverage on multiple linear regression and logistic regression to provide a range of widely used and transparent approaches Additional real-world examples of data preparation to establish a practical background for making decisions from data Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, Second Edition is an excellent reference for researchers and professionals who need to achieve effective decision making from data. The Second Edition is also an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate-level courses in data analysis and data mining and is appropriate for cross-disciplinary courses found within computer science and engineering departments. Glenn J. Myatt, PhD, is Chief Scientific Officer and Cofounder of Leadscope, Inc. The author of numerous journal articles, Dr. Myatt, is also the coauthor of Making Sense of Data II: A Practical Guide to Data Visualization, Advanced Data Mining Methods, and Applications and Making Sense of Data III: A Practical Guide to Designing Interactive Data Visualizations, both of which are published by Wiley. Wayne P. Johnson, MSc, is Cofounder of Leadscope, Inc., as well as a partner of Myatt & Johnson, Inc. He has over 35 years of experience in software engineering related to operating systems, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence at various companies including IBM, AT&T Bell Laboratories, and Ford Motor Company. He has led research projects related to informatics, and in addition to authoring numerous journal articles, Mr. Johnson is the coauthor of Making Sense of Data II: A Practical Guide to Data Visualization, Advanced Data Mining Methods, and Applications and Making Sense of Data III: A Practical Guide to Designing Interactive Data Visualizations, both of which are published by Wiley. Praise for theFirst Edition “...a well-written book on data analysis and data mining that provides an excellent foundation...” —CHOICE “This is a must-read book for learning practical statistics and data analysis...” —Computing Reviews.com A proven go-to guide for data analysis, Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, Second Edition focuses on basic data analysis approaches that are necessary to make timely and accurate decisions in a diverse range of projects. Based on the authors’ practical experience in implementing data analysis and data mining, the new edition provides clear explanations that guide readers from almost every field of study. In order to facilitate the needed steps when handling a data analysis or data mining project, a step-by-step approach aids professionals in carefully analyzing data and implementing results, leading to the development of smarter business decisions. The tools to summarize and interpret data in order to master data analysis are integrated throughout, and the Second Edition also features: Updated exercises for both manual and computer-aided implementation with accompanying worked examples New appendices with coverage on the freely available Traceis™ software, including tutorials using data from a variety of disciplines such as the social sciences, engineering, and finance New topical coverage on multiple linear regression and logistic regression to provide a range of widely used and transparent approaches Additional real-world examples of data preparation to establish a practical background for making decisions from data Making Sense of Data I: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining, Second Edition is an excellent reference for researchers and professionals who need to achieve effective decision making from data. The Second Edition is also an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate-level courses in data analysis and data mining and is appropriate for cross-disciplinary courses found within computer science and engineering departments.