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

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Explore the Data Collection Course Catalog

Google Cloud
Modernizing Data Lakes & Data Warehouses with GCP - 한국어
Skills you'll gain: Data Lakes, Google Cloud Platform, Data Warehousing, Data Infrastructure, Cloud Storage, Cloud Solutions, Data Architecture, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Data Processing, SQL, System Requirements, Data Analysis, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Google Cloud
Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) with Vertex AI: Model Evaluation - 简体中文
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Continuous Monitoring, Statistical Methods, Predictive Modeling, Google Cloud Platform, Machine Learning, Data Quality, Natural Language Processing
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidad de los Andes
Maestría en Inteligencia Analítica de Datos
Skills you'll gain: Systems Thinking, Unsupervised Learning, Deep Learning, Network Analysis, Data Storytelling, Predictive Modeling, Data Visualization, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Marketing Analytics, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Financial Statement Analysis, Simulations, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Analysis, Descriptive Analytics, Exploratory Data Analysis, Analytics, Random Forest Algorithm, Operations Research, Stakeholder Engagement
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Status: New
Google Cloud
Cloud Spanner 이해하기
Skills you'll gain: Google Cloud Platform, Cloud Applications, Database Management, Database Architecture and Administration, Relational Databases, Application Deployment, Query Languages, Transaction Processing, Terraform, Data Migration, Disaster Recovery, Authentications
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Google Cloud
Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) with Vertex AI: Model Evaluation - Bahasa Indonesia
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Google Cloud Platform, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Predictive Modeling, Data Ethics, Continuous Monitoring, Machine Learning, A/B Testing, Safety and Security
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
SD-WAN: Optimizing Network Performance & Security
Skills you'll gain: Software-Defined Networking, Network Architecture, Network Planning And Design, Wide Area Networks, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Network Security, Network Performance Management, Network Infrastructure, Firewall, Network Routing, Encryption, Real Time Data
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Introducción a la Ciencia de Datos
Skills you'll gain: Predictive Analytics, Data Cleansing, Unsupervised Learning, Exploratory Data Analysis, Supervised Learning, Data Visualization, Dimensionality Reduction, Descriptive Analytics, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Processing, Data Science, Regression Analysis, Statistical Machine Learning, Data Integration, Data Visualization Software, Machine Learning Algorithms, Statistical Visualization, Machine Learning, Matplotlib
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
Status: New
Google Cloud
Acelera el intercambio de conocimientos con Agentspace
Skills you'll gain: Productivity Software, Collaborative Software, OAuth, Google Cloud Platform, Generative AI Agents, Application Deployment, Enterprise Application Management, Data Integration, Application Programming Interface (API), Information Architecture, Agentic systems, Identity and Access Management, Authentications, Data Store
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Google Cloud
Work with Gemini Models in BigQuery - 한국어
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Customer Relationship Management, Workflow Management, Google Cloud Platform, Applied Machine Learning, Big Data, Business Modeling, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), SQL, Predictive Modeling, Python Programming
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Google Cloud
Integración de aplicaciones con Gemini 1.0 Pro en GC
Skills you'll gain: Google Cloud Platform, Generative AI, Integration Testing, Application Development, Application Programming Interface (API), Cloud Applications, Cloud API, Test Data
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidad de los Andes
Analítica de datos: visualización, predicción y toma de decisiones Certificado MasterTrack®
Skills you'll gain: Network Analysis, Data Storytelling, Predictive Modeling, Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Marketing Analytics, Financial Statement Analysis, Dashboard, Financial Data, Marketing Operations, Advertising, Applied Machine Learning, Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Random Forest Algorithm, Operations Research, Natural Language Processing, Mathematical Modeling, Trend Analysis
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
Amazon Web Services
Getting Started with Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility)
Skills you'll gain: Amazon Web Services, MongoDB, NoSQL, Cloud-Based Integration, Cloud Applications, Operational Databases
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular data collection courses

Modernizing Data Lakes & Data Warehouses with GCP - 한국어: Google Cloud
Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) with Vertex AI: Model Evaluation - 简体中文: Google Cloud
Maestría en Inteligencia Analítica de Datos: Universidad de los Andes
Cloud Spanner 이해하기: Google Cloud
Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) with Vertex AI: Model Evaluation - Bahasa Indonesia: Google Cloud
SD-WAN: Optimizing Network Performance & Security: Coursera Instructor Network
Certificado en Introducción a la Ciencia de Datos: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Acelera el intercambio de conocimientos con Agentspace: Google Cloud
Work with Gemini Models in BigQuery - 한국어: Google Cloud
Integración de aplicaciones con Gemini 1.0 Pro en GC: Google Cloud

Data Collection Courses Online