Data science is an inter-disciplinary field that uses scientific methods,

processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured
and unstructured data,[1][2] and apply knowledge and actionable insights from data
across a broad range of application domains. Data science is related to data
mining, machine learning and big data.

Data science is a "concept to unify statistics, data analysis, informatics, and

their related methods" in order to "understand and analyze actual phenomena" with
data.[3] It uses techniques and theories drawn from many fields within the context
of mathematics, statistics, computer science, information science, and domain
knowledge. Turing award winner Jim Gray imagined data science as a "fourth
paradigm" of science (empirical, theoretical, computational and now data-driven)
and asserted that "everything about science is changing because of the impact of
information technology" and the data deluge.[4][5]

Contents
1 Foundations
1.1 Relationship to statistics
2 Etymology
2.1 Early usage
2.2 Modern usage
3 Impact
4 Technologies and techniques
4.1 Techniques
5 References
Foundations
Data science is an interdisciplinary field focused on extracting knowledge from
data sets, which are typically large (see big data), and applying the knowledge and
actionable insights from data to solve problems in a wide range of application
domains.[6] The field encompasses preparing data for analysis, formulating data
science problems, analyzing data, developing data-driven solutions, and presenting
findings to inform high-level decisions in a broad range of application domains. As
such, it incorporates skills from computer science, statistics, information
science, mathematics, information visualization, data integration, graphic design,
complex systems, communication and business.[7][8] Statistician Nathan Yau, drawing
on Ben Fry, also links data science to human-computer interaction: users should be
able to intuitively control and explore data.[9][10] In 2015, the American
Statistical Association identified database management, statistics and machine
learning, and distributed and parallel systems as the three emerging foundational
professional communities.[11]

Relationship to statistics
Many statisticians, including Nate Silver, have argued that data science is not a
new field, but rather another name for statistics.[12] Others argue that data
science is distinct from statistics because it focuses on problems and techniques
unique to digital data.[13] Vasant Dhar writes that statistics emphasizes
quantitative data and description. In contrast, data science deals with
quantitative and qualitative data (e.g. images) and emphasizes prediction and
action.[14] Andrew Gelman of Columbia University and data scientist Vincent
Granville have described statistics as a nonessential part of data science.[15][16]
Stanford professor David Donoho writes that data science is not distinguished from
statistics by the size of datasets or use of computing, and that many graduate
programs misleadingly advertise their analytics and statistics training as the
essence of a data science program. He describes data science as an applied field
growing out of traditional statistics.[17] In summary, data science can be
therefore described as an applied branch of statistics.

Etymology
Early usage
In 1962, John Tukey described a field he called “data analysis,” which resembles
modern data science.[17] In 1985, in a lecture given to the Chinese Academy of
Sciences in Beijing, C.F. Jeff Wu used the term Data Science for the first time as
an alternative name for statistics.[18] Later, attendees at a 1992 statistics
symposium at the University of Montpellier II acknowledged the emergence of a new
discipline focused on data of various origins and forms, combining established
concepts and principles of statistics and data analysis with computing.[19][20]

The term “data science” has been traced back to 1974, when Peter Naur proposed it
as an alternative name for computer science.[21] In 1996, the International
Federation of Classification Societies became the first conference to specifically
feature data science as a topic.[21] However, the definition was still in flux.
After the 1985 lecture in the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, in 1997 C.F.
Jeff Wu again suggested that statistics should be renamed data science. He reasoned
that a new name would help statistics shed inaccurate stereotypes, such as being
synonymous with accounting, or limited to describing data.[22] In 1998, Chikio
Hayashi argued for data science as a new, interdisciplinary concept, with three
aspects: data design, collection, and analysis.[20]

During the 1990s, popular terms for the process of finding patterns in datasets
(which were increasingly large) included “knowledge discovery” and “data mining”.
[23][21]

Modern usage
The modern conception of data science as an independent discipline is sometimes
attributed to William S. Cleveland.[24] In a 2001 paper, he advocated an expansion
of statistics beyond theory into technical areas; because this would significantly
change the field, it warranted a new name.[23] "Data science" became more widely
used in the next few years: in 2002, the Committee on Data for Science and
Technology launched Data Science Journal. In 2003, Columbia University launched The
Journal of Data Science.[23] In 2014, the American Statistical Association's
Section on Statistical Learning and Data Mining changed its name to the Section on
Statistical Learning and Data Science, reflecting the ascendant popularity of data
science.[25]

The professional title of “data scientist” has been attributed to DJ Patil and Jeff
Hammerbacher in 2008.[26] Though it was used by the National Science Board in their
2005 report, "Long-Lived Digital Data Collections: Enabling Research and Education
in the 21st Century," it referred broadly to any key role in managing a digital
data collection.[27]

There is still no consensus on the definition of data science and it is considered

by some to be a buzzword.[28]

Impact
Big data is very quickly becoming a vital tool for businesses and companies of all
sizes.[29] The availability and interpretation of big data has altered the business
models of old industries and enabled the creation of new ones.[29] Data-driven
businesses are worth $1.2 trillion collectively in 2020, an increase from $333
billion in the year 2015.[30] Data scientists are responsible for breaking down big
data into usable information and creating software and algorithms that help
companies and organizations determine optimal operations.[30] As big data continues
to have a major impact on the world, data science does as well due to the close
relationship between the two.[30]

Technologies and techniques

There are a variety of different technologies and techniques that are used for data
science which depend on the application. More recently, full-featured, end-to-end
platforms have been developed and heavily used for data science and machine
learning.

Techniques
Further information: Statistics § Methods
Linear Regression
Logistic Regression
Decision tree is used as prediction models for classification and data fitting. The
decision tree structure can be used to generate rules able to classify or predict
target/class/label variable based on the observation attributes.
Support Vector Machine (SVM)
Clustering is a technique used to group data together.
Dimensionality reduction is used to reduce the complexity of data computation so
that it can be performed more quickly.
Machine learning is a technique used to perform tasks by inferencing patterns from
data
References
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Hayashi, Chikio (1 January 1998). "What is Data Science? Fundamental Concepts and
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