What is data collection?

Data collection is the systematic process of gathering information like observations or measurements while doing research. When you’re performing research, you’re likely looking for answers to a question you have. When it comes to data collection, digging beyond the surface tells an intriguing story. Collecting data about what you’re researching can help you gain more insight into the details and information that’ll help you answer that question. Although it’s particularly useful in science-related applications, the beauty of data collection is that you can use it to discover answers to almost any query you dream up.

Why learn data collection?

Data are important for helping you (and others, and even computers) make all sorts of different decisions. It helps scientists learn whether their studies are working and assists marketers in sending the right messages to the right people. It's what lets us know if something new we tried is really working. As information becomes digitized, it becomes data that we can use in a variety of ways to accomplish whatever we’ve set out to do. But in order to do that, we need to gather the data first. Without data collection to compile that information, we can’t be truly efficient in analyzing those details — what if something is missing? If you’re aiming to understand how research is conducted and decisions are made, it’s essential to learn about data collection’s role.

What career opportunities can arise from learning data collection?

Almost every career that involves data provides opportunities for collecting those data, even if the primary focus isn’t only collecting data. A multitude of different analyst roles require plenty of time spent gathering data, whether you choose to work in fields like marketing, human resources or business or you’re specifically interested in working as a data scientist — someone who directs their efforts toward compiling data and translating it into information that others can use to make decisions. Even working as an actuary — a professional who assesses risks, often in insurance fields — allows you to focus much of your time on dealing with data. But these careers are just the beginning; dozens more give you the opportunity to collect data, so it’s an important skill to have and concept to understand even if it’s not the primary focus of your work.

How can taking online courses on Coursera help me learn data collection?

If you’re looking to boost your data literacy, taking our online classes provides a worthwhile opportunity to pursue your goals whenever it’s most convenient for you. Online courses give you the time and space you need to complete coursework from home while also providing you access to learning materials created by accomplished instructors and other field experts. You’ll enjoy learning the basic frameworks of data collection and analysis as you’re getting started learning about this topic by discovering the role of research, analysis and collection techniques. As you advance, you might choose to study more complex topics like utilizing the Python programming language to create programs that fetch and analyze data. And with a variety of learning programs, from certificates to specializations to course credits for college degrees, you can formalize your data analysis accomplishments as you continue to build skills.

Top Data Collection Courses - Learn Data Collection Online

Explore the Data Collection Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft R Programming for Everyone
Skills you'll gain:
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Business Analytics Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax, Global Marketing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Status: New
Google Cloud
Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) with Vertex AI: Model Evaluation - 繁體中文
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Continuous Monitoring, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Predictive Modeling, Machine Learning Methods, Google Cloud Platform, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Data Quality, Automation
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of London
Graduate Certificate in Computer Science
Skills you'll gain: Virtual Reality, Human Computer Interaction, Game Design, Full-Stack Web Development, React Native, Agile Software Development, Animations, Data Ethics, Git (Version Control System), Event-Driven Programming, Network Security, Web Applications, Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Unsupervised Learning, Combinatorics, Database Design, Web Development, Generative AI, Usability Testing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Status: New
Google Cloud
Menggunakan BigQuery Machine Learning untuk Inferensi
Skills you'll gain:
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
CPA Pathways Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax, Global Marketing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Status: New
Knowledge Accelerators
Microsoft Planner - Essential Training for Managing Projects
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Outlook, Project Planning, Organizational Skills, Workflow Management, Project Management, Collaborative Software, Timelines, Team Management, Scheduling, Prioritization, Data Visualization
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universidad de los Andes
Maestría en Ingeniería de Software
Skills you'll gain: User Story, Process Analysis, Maintainability, Test Automation, Angular, Android Jetpack, Risk Mitigation, Cloud-Native Computing, Dashboard, Design Thinking, Site Reliability Engineering, API Design, Video Game Development, Internet Of Things, Sprint Planning, User Experience Design, Microservices, Machine Learning, Security Requirements Analysis, Cloud Applications
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Gestión de Inversiones
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Capital Markets, Portfolio Management, Accrual Accounting, Financial Analysis, Investments, Income Statement, Risk Management, Financial Reporting, Balance Sheet, Financial Data, Financial Accounting, Financial Market, Accounting, Business Ethics, Business Risk Management, Finance, Financial Modeling, Financial Trading
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership & Management
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax, Global Marketing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of London
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Skills you'll gain: Virtual Reality, Human Computer Interaction, Game Design, Full-Stack Web Development, React Native, Agile Software Development, Animations, Data Ethics, Git (Version Control System), Event-Driven Programming, Network Security, Web Applications, Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Unsupervised Learning, Combinatorics, Database Design, Web Development, Generative AI, Usability Testing
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Magíster en Inversiones y Finanzas Aplicadas
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Descriptive Analytics, FinTech, Financial Statements, Business Analytics, Business Valuation, Derivatives, Strategic Decision-Making, Portfolio Management, Customer Analysis, Risk Analysis, Credit Risk, Digital Transformation, Cloud Security, Assertiveness, Governance, Financial Analysis, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Investments, Financial Data
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years