Lecture 1.2 - Introduction and Types of Data - Understanding data

Prof. Usha Mohan
Department of Management Studies
IIT Madras

Learning outcomes:
1. Appreciate how Statistics relies on data.
2. Understand what data is and the purpose of collecting data.
3. Understand the process of data collection and the source of data.
4. Distinguish between Structured and Unstructured data.
5. Appreciate the usefulness of Structured data.
6. Create, download, and manipulate datasets.
7. Work on a subset of a dataset.
8. Identify variables and observations from the dataset and appreciate the difference between having no data and the case when data has value zero in the dataset.
9. Frame questions from the dataset relevant to the information being sought. IIT Madras welcomes you to the world’s first BSc Degree program in Programming and Data Science. This program was designed for students and working professionals from various educational backgrounds and different age groups to give them an opportunity to study from IIT Madras without having to write the JEE. Through our online programs, we help our learners to get access to a world-class curriculum in Data Science and Programming.

To know more about our Programs, please visit :

[shashvat.dwivedi]

I don't understand the criticism for her teaching. I found it brilliant.

[swethasuresh]

Once again, IITM proves its vision to provide quality education by having such amazing faculty like Prof. Usha Mohan teach Statistics. I personally think Statistics is tough but Prof. Usha Mohan carries the course forward in a breeze. Thank you Professor!!

[namratagupta]

Main headings-

What is data?
Why do we collect data?
Structured and Unstructured Data
Variables(columns)and cases(rows)

[abhilashkokkonda]

She is an excellent teacher I have seen so far in this course

[ayuuadoughnut]

The way she taught is actually has me captivated and curious to know more about this course. Thank you!

[kaushikchandrasekhar]

She is brilliant and covers all aspects thoroughly 👏 .

[mananibhasin]

19:30 Case: a unit for* which data is collected.

[siddarth]

the first 1 minute, ive been hearing it everyday

[travelmind]

Hi IITM, Thank you for launching such programs and giving everyone equal opportunity.

A few suggestions :-
I enrolled into Bsc program and except for computational part rest all lectures were utterly boring. There is no doubt about Professor's knowledge but going through those lectures felt like a torture.

Please understand in today's digital world what really matters is how creatively you present your content. You may refer to channels like "Programming with Mosh" or Harvard University's CS50 Into. Honestly, nobody cares how educated the video presenter is what they really care about is whether you can keep them engaged through out in way that if they don't understand something they would love to go back and play back the video.

* Please don't purely use screen recorder and work on video creation part and like Editing, Transitions, Video Quality, Audio Quality, Infographics, Animations.

[For now Students are just enrolling because it's IIT but once you have worked on the video creation part they'll enroll to get educated on the subject.
Regards, ]

[Alpha_beta-fg]

I generated data by liking and commenting 🤖

[shubhamGaming]

Revision
What is data?
Why data is collected?
Structure and unstructured data
Variable (columns) varies
Cases (rows)

[VishalGupta-xwrp]

Done, Excellent and Lovely Teacher. I couldn't have asked for more. She's Superb ♥️

[shahnawaz]

Legend are watching 2x and say it's normal speed 🗿😂😂

[shivu]

27:30 The Children still have normal blood pressure, even though their body temperatures are in the fatal range 😅

[DinushaGalagedara]

Great madam i understand it, love from sri lanka,

[sugandhisaxena]

Can anyone tell me how are reports not unstructured data?
I mean how can you represent report under variables/attributes ?

[MdArif-jtwd]

At 1:08 She symbolically says that we are spending half amount of our food on petrol😅😅😅 #PetrolHike

[OK-fotm]

There are some topics I am unable to understand. But marvellous teaching nonetheless

[AMITSINGH-mnvh]

@25:30 "Rows represent cases: For each cases, same attribute is recorded." I am unable to understand the meaning of this line. Can anyone please clarify.


I think "Some" is missplet as "Same".

[PrabhjyotsingGulati]

Completed the lecture on 12th May 2025. #interesting_topic