Sample interview questions: How do you assess the quality and reliability of external datasets for analysis?
Sample answer:
Assessing Quality and Reliability of External Datasets
- Data Source Verification: Verify the credibility of the data source (e.g., reputable institutions, research organizations) and ensure it aligns with the intended research objectives.
- Data Collection Methods: Evaluate how the data was collected (e.g., survey, observational study, experiment) to assess the potential for bias or inaccuracies.
- Data Cleaning and Preprocessing: Examine the dataset for missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies that could compromise the analysis. Perform data cleaning and preprocessing to ensure data integrity.
- Data Documentation: Check for comprehensive documentation that describes the data structure, variable definitions, and data collection procedures. This allows for transparency and facilitates understanding.
- Metadata Review: Review metadata associated with the dataset, including data provenance, date of collection, and updates, to assess its currency and relevance for… Read full answer