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
IBM
IBM Generative AI Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Predictive Modeling, Unit Testing, Supervised Learning, Feature Engineering, Generative AI, Keras (Neural Network Library), Deep Learning, Exploratory Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Data Wrangling, ChatGPT, Natural Language Processing, Data Analysis, Jupyter, Unsupervised Learning, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Generative AI Agents, Data Ethics
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
87K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Multiple educators
Data Science Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Pseudocode, Jupyter, Algorithms, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Pandas (Python Package), Data Visualization Software, Correlation Analysis, Web Scraping, NumPy, Probability & Statistics, Predictive Modeling, Big Data, Computer Programming Tools, Automation, Data Collection, Data Science, Machine Learning Algorithms, Unsupervised Learning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
113K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: New AI skills
Google
Google Cybersecurity
Skills you'll gain: Threat Modeling, Network Security, Threat Management, Incident Response, Vulnerability Management, Computer Security Incident Management, Hardening, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Cyber Attacks, Cybersecurity, Network Protocols, Professional Networking, Bash (Scripting Language), Operating Systems, Security Controls, Stakeholder Communications, Debugging, Interviewing Skills, Python Programming
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
51K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Share Data Through the Art of Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Literacy, Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Tableau Software, Presentations, Data Visualization Software, Dashboard, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
9.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Data Engineering, Big Data, and Machine Learning on GCP
Skills you'll gain: Data Pipelines, Dataflow, Google Cloud Platform, Real Time Data, Data Lakes, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Dashboard, Data Warehousing, Extract, Transform, Load, Cloud Engineering, Data Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Storage, Big Data, Tensorflow, Unstructured Data, Data Integration, Data Migration, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Shiny (R Package), Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Regression Analysis, Leaflet (Software), Version Control, Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Science, Statistical Inference, Predictive Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Plotly, Machine Learning Algorithms, Plot (Graphics), Knitr
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
51K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Analytical Skills, Data Sharing, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, SQL, Data Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
115K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: People Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Business Intelligence, Human Resource Strategy, Financial Data, Marketing Analytics, Analytics, Talent Management, Financial Analysis, Predictive Analytics, Peer Review, Business Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Forecasting, Customer Insights, Workforce Planning, Demand Planning, Customer Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Requirements Elicitation, Risk Mitigation, Business Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Risk Analysis, Process Mapping, Process Optimization, Requirements Management, Risk Management, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Work Breakdown Structure, Scope Management, Process Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Visualization Software, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Data Analysis and Visualization Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Big Data, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis, Dashboard, IBM Cognos Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Data Mining, Apache Hadoop, Tree Maps, Excel Formulas, Data Wrangling, Apache Hive, Data Collection, Data Mart, Microsoft Excel, Data Warehousing, Data Quality, Data Cleansing, Data Import/Export
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
27K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Data Visualization with Python
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Visualization, Dashboard, Interactive Data Visualization, Matplotlib, Seaborn, Data Presentation, Data Analysis, Geospatial Information and Technology, Pandas (Python Package), Scatter Plots, Histogram, Heat Maps, Box Plots
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Davis
SQL for Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Governance, SQL, Data Quality, Database Design, Query Languages, Data Manipulation, Data Modeling, Relational Databases, Data Analysis, Data Cleansing
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks