In this article we discuss the difference between analytics (data analytics) and statistics. Around 7.8 billion population generates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data each day. Data is the primary source in the digital transformation to perform analysis.
Analytics and statistics are the two branches of Data Science.
‘To explore the data and analyze the results is the job of an Analyst and to infer by going beyond the data is a job of a Statistician.’
Analytics got the limelight in the late 1960s when computers became the support system in decision-making.
When we look up for a ratio of rain at a specific time of a day by Googling it out and the search engine locates it by using algorithms. You know what’s working in front of you.
Yeah! You got it right…
That’s basic analytics at work.
Every single time, you use search engine, you are doing analytics without even being aware of it. This is literally as much easy these days that even smaller kids are able to perform such actions in their daily routine.
The answer to the question that might arise in your mind at this point that Is Analysts out of job now?
Well, No.
Because the inspiration to ask the worthy question is more complex than finding results based on data for a specific question. And this is what expert Analysts do. They gather every worthy question in an aligned form for you to explore out of it.
Expert Analysts work with Big Data, perform speedy coding and find worthy information out of the data.
Working with a whole lot of Data without knowing its facts and facets is similar to looking for treasure in the depth of the sea, you never know where you are going to find it. It’s only possible for those who have Data chaos and passionate curiosity about figures.
The training programs conducted for Analytic trainees aim at endorsing software skills learning for looking at massive datasets.
Hence, exploratory Analytics is not purposed to answer questions but to raise them instead.
CROSSING THE PREMISES; Going Beyond Border!
Just beyond the premises of Analytics lies STATISTICS.
Analysts resist their temptation to reach out for conclusions in order to avoid statistics.
Drawing inferences is what statisticians do.
Statisticians work through hypothesis-testing. They prove the accuracy of a fact obtained from data. Statistics tests data in order to prove the facts.
After getting the job of analyst done, we always turn our tables to statisticians for testing our upgraded queries.
Statistics collects data related to question decorated by analyst and then analyses and interprets that specific data, test it and comes up with inferences in form of intervals, ranges or measures.
Statistics and Analytics can go long way parallel to each other with completely different work tracks that can be of the same length but can never meet at any grounds just like railway tracks.
All you have to do is to sit back and relax and use the search engine as this thing called INTERNET is here to do everything for you the only thing that you need is COMMON SENSE (wishing it be there)!
Click here to read about Decision Intelligence.
Author Info:
My name is Akhunzada Younis Said. I am a software project manager in HAZTECH, a software engineering graduate and a content writer. I love working with Linux, Data science and open-source software.
