WGU D467 Data Collection & Analysis
Techniques Study Notes | Actual verified study
set complete Solutions | 2026 Updates | 100% Pass
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D467 Exploring Data
Prepare Data for Exploration
Module 1
Refresher: Data Analysis Process Steps
ASK, PREPARE, PROCESS, ANALYZE, SHARE, and ACT
Data Exploration:
Collect Data
● Cookies - Are small files stored on computers that contain information about users.
Cookies can help inform advertisers about your personal interest and habits based on
your online surfing, without personally identifying you.
● What is one way the United States Census Bureau collects data?
○ By using forms
● The data collected from surveys can help improve services in various industries,
including healthcare. This is TRUE
● Factors to consider when collecting data.
○ How the data will be collected
○ Choose data sources
● First-party data: Data collected by an individual or group using their own resources
○ first-party data is typically preferred because users know it originated within the
organization. First-party data is collected by an individual or group using their
own resources.
,● Second-party data: Data collected by a group directly from its audience and then sold
● Third-party data: Data collected from outside sources who did not collect it directly
● No matter what kind of data you use, it needs to be inspected for accuracy and
trustworthiness
● Data collection considerations
○ How the data will be collected
, ○ Choose data sources
○ Decide what data to use
○ How much data to collect
○ Select the right data type
● Population - refers to all possible data values in a certain data set.
● Sample - A part of a population that is representative of the population
○ You might collect a data sample about one spot in the city and analyze the traffic
there, or you might pull a random sample from all existing data in the population.
● If you needed an answer immediately, you’d have to use historical data, which is data
that already exists.
Selecting the Right Data
1. How the Data Will Be Collected
● Collect it yourself = First-party data
● Get it from others = Second- or third-party data
2. Data Sources
● Second-party = Collected by another organization, then shared or sold
● Third-party = Sold by someone who didn’t collect it (from various sources)
3. Match Data to Business Problem
● Choose data that directly helps answer your question
● For trends over time, use time series data (with dates)
4. How Much Data to Collect
● Use a random sample for general insights
● Use targeted data for focused questions
, ● Sample size depends on project needs
5. Time Frame
● Long-term project = Plan ahead to collect over time
● Quick answers = Use historical data (already available)
6. Use a Flowchart for Time-Sensitive Projects
● Helps decide whether to collect new data or use existing data based on time available
Discover data formats
● Qualitative data - can’t be counted, measured, or easily expressed using numbers.
Qualitative data is usually listed as a name, category, or description.
● Quantitative data - can be measured or counted and then expressed as a number. This
is data with a certain quantity, amount or range.
● Discrete data - Data that is counted and has a limited number of values
○ Discrete data isn't limited to dollar amounts. Examples of other discrete data are
stars and points. When partial measurements (half-stars or quarter-points)
aren't allowed, the data is discrete. If you don't accept anything other than full
stars or points, the data is considered discrete.
● Continuous data - Data that is measured and can have almost any numeric value
● Nominal data - A type of qualitative data that is categorized without a set order
○ In other words this type of data does not have a sequence! These choices don’t
have a particular order.
● Ordinal data - A type of qualitative data with a set order or scale
○ Example rank a movie from 1 to 5
● Internal data
○ Data that lives within a company’s own systems
● External data
Techniques Study Notes | Actual verified study
set complete Solutions | 2026 Updates | 100% Pass
Guarantee
D467 Exploring Data
Prepare Data for Exploration
Module 1
Refresher: Data Analysis Process Steps
ASK, PREPARE, PROCESS, ANALYZE, SHARE, and ACT
Data Exploration:
Collect Data
● Cookies - Are small files stored on computers that contain information about users.
Cookies can help inform advertisers about your personal interest and habits based on
your online surfing, without personally identifying you.
● What is one way the United States Census Bureau collects data?
○ By using forms
● The data collected from surveys can help improve services in various industries,
including healthcare. This is TRUE
● Factors to consider when collecting data.
○ How the data will be collected
○ Choose data sources
● First-party data: Data collected by an individual or group using their own resources
○ first-party data is typically preferred because users know it originated within the
organization. First-party data is collected by an individual or group using their
own resources.
,● Second-party data: Data collected by a group directly from its audience and then sold
● Third-party data: Data collected from outside sources who did not collect it directly
● No matter what kind of data you use, it needs to be inspected for accuracy and
trustworthiness
● Data collection considerations
○ How the data will be collected
, ○ Choose data sources
○ Decide what data to use
○ How much data to collect
○ Select the right data type
● Population - refers to all possible data values in a certain data set.
● Sample - A part of a population that is representative of the population
○ You might collect a data sample about one spot in the city and analyze the traffic
there, or you might pull a random sample from all existing data in the population.
● If you needed an answer immediately, you’d have to use historical data, which is data
that already exists.
Selecting the Right Data
1. How the Data Will Be Collected
● Collect it yourself = First-party data
● Get it from others = Second- or third-party data
2. Data Sources
● Second-party = Collected by another organization, then shared or sold
● Third-party = Sold by someone who didn’t collect it (from various sources)
3. Match Data to Business Problem
● Choose data that directly helps answer your question
● For trends over time, use time series data (with dates)
4. How Much Data to Collect
● Use a random sample for general insights
● Use targeted data for focused questions
, ● Sample size depends on project needs
5. Time Frame
● Long-term project = Plan ahead to collect over time
● Quick answers = Use historical data (already available)
6. Use a Flowchart for Time-Sensitive Projects
● Helps decide whether to collect new data or use existing data based on time available
Discover data formats
● Qualitative data - can’t be counted, measured, or easily expressed using numbers.
Qualitative data is usually listed as a name, category, or description.
● Quantitative data - can be measured or counted and then expressed as a number. This
is data with a certain quantity, amount or range.
● Discrete data - Data that is counted and has a limited number of values
○ Discrete data isn't limited to dollar amounts. Examples of other discrete data are
stars and points. When partial measurements (half-stars or quarter-points)
aren't allowed, the data is discrete. If you don't accept anything other than full
stars or points, the data is considered discrete.
● Continuous data - Data that is measured and can have almost any numeric value
● Nominal data - A type of qualitative data that is categorized without a set order
○ In other words this type of data does not have a sequence! These choices don’t
have a particular order.
● Ordinal data - A type of qualitative data with a set order or scale
○ Example rank a movie from 1 to 5
● Internal data
○ Data that lives within a company’s own systems
● External data
