In a case study where a company is facing declining sales, what analysis technique would be most effective in identifying the root causes?

  • Cohort Analysis
  • Regression Analysis
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Trend Analysis
Regression Analysis would be most effective in identifying the root causes of declining sales. It allows for the exploration of relationships between variables and can help uncover factors contributing to the decline. SWOT Analysis, Trend Analysis, and Cohort Analysis focus on different aspects and may not provide the same depth of insight.

To ensure clarity in communication, a data analyst should avoid using too much _______.

  • Ambiguity
  • Complexity
  • Jargon
  • Redundancy
A data analyst should avoid using too much complexity in their communication to ensure clarity. This includes avoiding unnecessary technical jargon, which may hinder understanding for non-technical stakeholders.

What is the primary function of a Database Management System (DBMS)?

  • Calculate complex mathematical operations
  • Control external hardware devices
  • Display data on the screen
  • Store and manage data
The primary function of a DBMS is to store and manage data efficiently. It provides a systematic way to organize, retrieve, and manipulate data, ensuring data integrity and security.

For a recommendation system in an e-commerce platform, which machine learning technique would be most effective?

  • Collaborative Filtering
  • Decision Trees
  • Linear Regression
  • Naive Bayes
Collaborative filtering is commonly used in recommendation systems as it leverages user behavior and preferences to make personalized recommendations. Decision trees, linear regression, and Naive Bayes are not as well-suited for this task as they do not inherently capture user-item interactions for recommendations.

_______ decomposition breaks a time series into systematic and unsystematic components.

  • Additive
  • Multiplicative
  • Seasonal
  • Trend
Multiplicative decomposition is used when the variations in a time series exhibit proportional behavior. It breaks down the time series into systematic (trend, seasonal) and unsystematic (remainder) components.

In cloud computing, what is the term used for the ability to scale resources up or down automatically based on demand?

  • Adaptive Scaling
  • Auto Scaling
  • Dynamic Scaling
  • Elastic Scaling
The term used for the ability to scale resources up or down automatically based on demand in cloud computing is often referred to as Auto Scaling. This feature helps optimize resource usage and ensures efficient performance during varying workloads.

During a project update meeting, a data analyst is asked about an unexpected trend in the data. The analyst should:

  • Deflect the question and focus on other positive aspects of the project.
  • Explain the unexpected trend, its potential causes, and propose further investigation or analysis if needed.
  • Express uncertainty and suggest consulting with another team member.
  • Minimize the importance of the unexpected trend.
The analyst should explain the unexpected trend, providing insights into potential causes and suggesting further investigation. Transparency and proactive problem-solving contribute to effective communication in a project update meeting.

What is a primary function of BI tools like Tableau and Power BI in data analysis?

  • Data Cleaning
  • Data Encryption
  • Data Storage
  • Data Visualization
The primary function of BI tools like Tableau and Power BI is data visualization. These tools help analysts transform raw data into meaningful visualizations, such as charts and graphs, to gain insights and make informed decisions.

How does Git's distributed version control system differ from centralized systems?

  • Centralized systems have better performance than Git.
  • Each developer has a local repository, allowing for offline work and faster operations.
  • Git does not support branching and merging.
  • Git requires a constant connection to the central server for all operations.
In a distributed version control system like Git, each developer has a local repository, enabling them to work offline and perform operations more quickly. This decentralization is a key differentiator from centralized systems, which rely on a central server for version control.

How do you select distinct values from a column in a SQL table?

  • DIFFERENT
  • DISTINCT
  • SELECT UNIQUE
  • UNIQUE
The DISTINCT keyword in SQL is used to retrieve unique values from a specified column in a table. It ensures that only distinct values are returned in the result set, eliminating duplicate entries. This is helpful when you want to see a list of unique values in a specific column.