How to Describe Data

How to Describe Data examines the use of data in our everyday lives, giving you the ability to assess the usefulness and relevance of the information you encounter. In this course, learn about uncertainty’s role in measurements and how you can develop a critical eye toward evaluating statistical information in places like headlines, advertisements, and research. You’ll learn the fundamentals of discussing, evaluating, and presenting a wide range of data sets, as well as how data helps us make sense of the world. This is a broad overview of statistics and is designed for those with no previous experience in data analysis. With this course, you’ll be able to spot potentially misleading statistics and better interpret claims about data you encounter in the world. Course assessments focus on your understanding of concepts rather than solving math problems. This is the first course in Understanding Data: Navigating Statistics, Science, and AI Specialization, where you’ll gain a core foundation for statistical and data literacy and gain an understanding of the data we encounter in our everyday lives.

• Welcome, Introduction & What Makes a Statistic Useful?
• Rethinking Certainty
• Talking about Numbers
• Statistics, Skepticism and Trust