CHAPTER 10
Cleansing Your Data
Every set of data contains some errors. Detecting and removing these oversights, known as data cleansing, can often be a lengthy process. However, efficient data cleansing is essential in order to be able to come to accurate conclusions from data analysis. In addition, one of the principles of the Data Protection Act (described in Chapter 8) is to ensure that your data is accurate and, when necessary, is up to date.
Overview
Data cleansing comprises three main steps:
- Detecting the errors
- Selecting and applying the most appropriate methods to correct the errors
- If possible, preventing the errors from happening again
The process of data cleansing is usually open-ended, as some errors are hard to find and eliminate. ...
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