Data Science Basics: What Data Scientists Do · Lesson 1 · 3 minutes

Pick a clear goal

Identify questions with clear business goals

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  1. Elena wants more sales

    Elena runs a small online plant shop. She wants to use data. But first, she needs a clear goal.

    Elena wants more sales. Elena runs a small online plant shop. She wants to use data. But first, she needs a clear goal.

  2. Clear goals work best

    A vague desire is too fuzzy for data. A clear goal names a specific business problem to solve.

    Clear goals work best. A vague desire is too fuzzy for data. A clear goal names a specific business problem to solve.

  3. Elena asks two questions. Which one has a clear goal?

    • How can we make everyone love plants?
    • Which plant do shoppers return most often?

    Answer: Which plant do shoppers return most often?

    A clear goal targets a specific business event, not a vague mood.

  4. Complete the rule for Elena:

    Data cannot fix a ___ wish. It needs a ___ goal.

    Answer: Data cannot fix a vague wish. It needs a clear goal.

    Data needs a clear problem to look for.

  5. Which question has a clear goal for a business?

    • Where do visitors leave the checkout page?
    • How do we get great energy on our website?
    • Can we make the shop seem magical?

    Answer: Where do visitors leave the checkout page?

    Clear goals name a specific problem you want to solve.

  6. Build Elena's plan to solve a problem with data:

    Answer: Shoppers leave at checkout Find where they stop Fix the payment screen

    Starting with a clear goal guides what data Elena must check.

  7. Elena thinks: 'If I just collect data, it will tell me how to make people happy.' Is she right?

    • No. Data needs a clear goal, not a vague desire.
    • Yes. Data tools always find happiness for you.

    Answer: No. Data needs a clear goal, not a vague desire.

    Data tools cannot find patterns in vague feelings.

  8. Put Elena's steps in order:

    Answer: Spot a drop in plant sales → Pick a clear goal to investigate → Look at shop data to find the cause

    A good data project starts with a clear question before looking at records.

What to remember

  • Data needs a clear goal to be helpful.
  • Vague desires like 'make people happy' are too fuzzy for data.
  • A clear goal focuses on a specific business problem.

Next in this course: Use countable facts. It carries on in the Breni app.

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