Think Like a Data Scientist

SummaryThink Like a Data Scientist presents a step-by-step approach to data science, combining analytic, programming, and business perspectives into easy-to-digest techniques and thought processes for solving real world data-centric problems.Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.About the TechnologyData collected from customers, scientific measurements, IoT sensors, and so on is valuable only if you understand it. Data scientists revel in the interesting and rewarding challenge of observing, exploring, analyzing, and interpreting this data. Getting started with data science means more than mastering analytic tools and techniques, however; the real magic happens when you begin to think like a data scientist. This book will get you there.About the BookThink Like a Data Scientist teaches you a step-by-step approach to solving real-world data-centric problems. By breaking down carefully crafted examples, you'll learn to combine analytic, programming, and business perspectives into a repeatable process for extracting real knowledge from data. As you read, you'll discover (or remember) valuable statistical techniques and explore powerful data science software. More importantly, you'll put this knowledge together using a structured process for data science. When you've finished, you'll have a strong foundation for a lifetime of data science learning and practice.What's InsideThe data science process, step-by-stepHow to anticipate problemsDealing with uncertaintyBest practices in software and scientific thinkingAbout the ReaderReaders need beginner programming skills and knowledge of basic statistics.About the AuthorBrian Godsey has worked in software, academia, finance, and defense and has launched several data-centric start-ups.Table of ContentsPART 1 - PREPARING AND GATHERING DATA AND KNOWLEDGEPhilosophies of data scienceSetting goals by asking good questionsData all around us: the virtual wildernessData wrangling: from capture to domesticationData assessment: poking and proddingPART 2 - BUILDING A PRODUCT WITH SOFTWARE AND STATISTICSDeveloping a planStatistics and modeling: concepts and foundationsSoftware: statistics in actionSupplementary software: bigger, faster, more efficientPlan execution: putting it all togetherPART 3 - FINISHING OFF THE PRODUCT AND WRAPPING UPDelivering a productAfter product delivery: problems and revisionsWrapping up: putting the project away