Identify a decision that requires, or would be enhanced by, data analysis.
What is the situation?
What are the parameters or options in the decision?
Who are the key stakeholders?
How do you hope or expect data to help illuminate your decision?
: Identify data that will help you better understand the situation.
What are the key performance indicators for your situation?
What defines the range of cases you will consider?
What are the variables you will consider?
Is each variable categorical or quantitative?
What purpose does each variable have in informing your decision?
Develop a data-gathering plan.
Where will the data come from?
Is it observational or experimental data?
Who will collect it?
How much data will you need (sample size)?
How will you assure that it is representative of the population?
What steps will you take to mitigate potential bias?