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How fast can data analysis and coding be learnt?
What do I need to faster my learning of coding and data analysis?
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4 answers
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Jack’s Answer
Hi Faith!
The answer depends on your definition of "done." If the goal is to become literate in coding + data analysis, it could be months. If the goal is to get employed and paid for your knowledge and this skill, it can be longer. There is always more to learn / improve!
The technologies, coding languages, and resources are vast. My suggestion would be to
(a) build literacy in coding (my recommendation here would be Python)
(b) learn the popular frameworks / libraries for data analysis
I've found the below resources helpful in building coding skills quickly:
(paid) https://www.datacamp.com/
But...I'm sure there are free / cheaper alternatives on the web (Udemy, chatGPT). Then I would try some small projects to practice your growing skill. Be sure to check with yourself that you find it enjoyable, otherwise it will be very hard to stay motivated!2
The answer depends on your definition of "done." If the goal is to become literate in coding + data analysis, it could be months. If the goal is to get employed and paid for your knowledge and this skill, it can be longer. There is always more to learn / improve!
The technologies, coding languages, and resources are vast. My suggestion would be to
(a) build literacy in coding (my recommendation here would be Python)
(b) learn the popular frameworks / libraries for data analysis
I've found the below resources helpful in building coding skills quickly:
(paid) https://www.datacamp.com/
But...I'm sure there are free / cheaper alternatives on the web (Udemy, chatGPT). Then I would try some small projects to practice your growing skill. Be sure to check with yourself that you find it enjoyable, otherwise it will be very hard to stay motivated!2
Updated
Elizabeth (Betsy)’s Answer
Hi Faith, I'm not sure how far you are along with your schooling, but if you have time and opportunity to select some classes, there are a few skills that will help you with learning to code and analyze data. They include understanding math functions, but it helped me understand the logic of some code. This was especially true with understanding how If and Then equations work. In addition, you look for courses that teach you about the different data forms and data types. You will want to understand what makes data good and reliable or bad to use. This doesn't mean that you have to learn every language, but understanding a few on them will give an understanding of how the coding is structured in different programs. There are lots of tools in the open source community that you can use to figure out the program languages you don't know, but it helps to understand how the structures work.
Most of these skills are taught in STEM type programs in high school. There are also programs at community colleges and universities to help get you started if you are finished with high school. In addition, some colleges also have arrangements with local businesses, where you can participate in internships, this will provide you opportunities to practice your skills in a work environment.
Most of these skills are taught in STEM type programs in high school. There are also programs at community colleges and universities to help get you started if you are finished with high school. In addition, some colleges also have arrangements with local businesses, where you can participate in internships, this will provide you opportunities to practice your skills in a work environment.
Updated
David’s Answer
Hi Faith,
Data analysis requires a solid understanding of statistics. I would recommend picking up some intro textbooks. There's also a great Youtube channel called "Statquest".
More practically, the best way to get better at data analysis is to find some data and a problem to solve that's related to it. Ask a question that's interesting to you - find some data that's related to it (Kaggle is a great source for this, but you can also check US government sites), and then brainstorm analyses that could help answer that question. There likely won't be one analysis that will answer the question, but this is the reality of almost all data analysis problems. If you want to pair the data analysis with programming, you can try using the R programming language to analyze the data.
Data analysis requires a solid understanding of statistics. I would recommend picking up some intro textbooks. There's also a great Youtube channel called "Statquest".
More practically, the best way to get better at data analysis is to find some data and a problem to solve that's related to it. Ask a question that's interesting to you - find some data that's related to it (Kaggle is a great source for this, but you can also check US government sites), and then brainstorm analyses that could help answer that question. There likely won't be one analysis that will answer the question, but this is the reality of almost all data analysis problems. If you want to pair the data analysis with programming, you can try using the R programming language to analyze the data.
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Hi Faith! The best way to get better quickly at data analysis and coding is to continuously practice. Think through some passion projects you have and try building them up, one line of code at a time. Find some interesting problems in your everyday life or online and see if you can find the right data and tools needed to get an answer. Sign up for some online courses and participate in the exercises and problems. You will continue to keep improving and learning every minute you continue to build up your skills. Hope this helps!