Key Concepts in Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)
1. Data Profiling
o Explanation: Summarizing the dataset by analyzing individual
features (columns), including data types, unique values, and
summary statistics (mean, median, etc.).
o Real-World Example in Health: Profiling a dataset of patient
records to identify distributions of age, gender, and primary
diagnoses.
2. Missing Value Analysis
o Explanation: Identifying and handling missing data to ensure
accurate analysis. Techniques include removal, imputation, or
flagging.
o Real-World Example in Health: Addressing missing blood
pressure readings in a study of cardiovascular diseases by
imputing values based on similar cases.
3. Outlier Detection
o Explanation: Identifying values that deviate significantly from
the rest of the dataset, which might indicate errors or rare
conditions.
o Real-World Example in Health: Detecting extreme cholesterol
levels in a population health study, which could signal errors
or unusual cases needing further investigation.
4. Univariate Analysis
o Explanation: Analyzing individual variables to understand their
distribution and variability using histograms, boxplots, and
summary statistics.
o Real-World Example in Health: Analyzing the distribution of
BMI in a dataset to identify trends and categorize patients into
health risk groups.
5. Bivariate Analysis
o Explanation: Exploring relationships between two variables
using scatter plots, correlation coefficients, and cross-
tabulation.
o Real-World Example in Health: Studying the correlation
between physical activity levels and obesity rates.
6. Multivariate Analysis
o Explanation: Exploring relationships among multiple variables
to identify complex patterns. Techniques include pair plots,
heatmaps, and dimensionality reduction.
o Real-World Example in Health: Investigating the interplay
between age, gender, lifestyle factors, and the risk of Type 2
diabetes.
7. Feature Engineering
o Explanation: Creating new variables (features) or transforming
existing ones to enhance the analysis.
o Real-World Example in Health: Creating a risk score feature by
combining age, BMI, and smoking status.
8. Visualization
o Explanation: Using charts (e.g., bar, scatter, box, heatmap) to
present data insights visually, making it easier to interpret.
o Real-World Example in Health: Visualizing trends in
hospitalization rates due to respiratory diseases during flu
season.
30-Day Plan to Master EDA
Week 1: Foundations of EDA
Day 1-2:
o Understand the purpose and importance of EDA.
o Learn about common data types and structures (categorical,
numerical).
o Practice: Use a health dataset (e.g., patient demographics) to
profile the data.
Day 3-4:
o Study common Python/R libraries for EDA:
Python: Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn.
R: dplyr, ggplot2.
o Install Jupyter Notebook or RStudio and set up your
environment.
Day 5-7:
o Practice data profiling and missing value analysis.
o Handle missing values in a sample dataset by imputing or
removing them.
o Resource: WHO dataset or CDC public health datasets.
Week 2: Univariate and Bivariate Analysis
Day 8-10:
o Perform univariate analysis:
Plot histograms, boxplots, and density plots.
Summarize health data variables like BMI, age, and
blood pressure.
Day 11-14:
o Perform bivariate analysis:
Create scatter plots to explore relationships (e.g., age
vs. BMI).
Calculate correlation coefficients.
o Practice: Use datasets like NHANES to explore health-related
variables.
Week 3: Multivariate Analysis and Advanced Techniques
Day 15-17:
o Learn about multivariate techniques:
Pair plots, heatmaps, and PCA (Principal Component
Analysis).
Use these techniques to find relationships in multiple
variables.
Day 18-21:
o Practice feature engineering:
Create new variables from existing ones (e.g., BMI
categories from BMI values).
o Explore advanced visualization techniques (e.g., interactive
dashboards with Plotly).
Week 4: Real-World Application
Day 22-25:
o Work on a real-world dataset:
Download a healthcare dataset (e.g., diabetes dataset
from Kaggle).
Apply EDA techniques to analyze risk factors and trends.
Day 26-28:
o Document your process and findings in a Jupyter Notebook or
R Markdown.
o Use visualizations to create a narrative for your insights.
Day 29-30:
o Present your EDA findings in a report or presentation.
o Review feedback and refine your approach.
Essential Tips
1. Practice on Real Datasets: Use public health datasets from
Kaggle, WHO, or government health agencies.
2. Focus on Storytelling: EDA is not just analysis; it’s about
interpreting and communicating results effectively.
3. Seek Feedback: Share your findings with peers or mentors to get
constructive feedback.
4. Stay Curious: Dive deeper into any anomalies or trends you
observe during EDA.
