What is one of the main goals of data analysis?

One of the main goals of data analysis is to clean and prepare data for reporting. This process involves transforming raw data into a format that is suitable for analysis, ensuring accuracy, and removing any inconsistencies or errors. By doing so, analysts can provide reliable insights and findings that facilitate informed decision-making.

Data cleaning and preparation are critical steps in the analysis workflow because they help to ensure that the conclusions drawn from the data are valid. Analysts need to ensure that the data is accurate, relevant, and appropriately organized before applying statistical methods or generating reports. This preparation lays the groundwork for effective analysis and meaningful interpretation of the results, which ultimately supports better strategic decisions based on the data analyzed. Thus, this goal emphasizes the importance of data quality and integrity in the analysis process.