Data Literacy
Using data to gain insights, solve problems, and inform decisions.
Level 1. Uses data in basic situations.
BEHAVIORS
- Reads documents to extract basic data information.
- Describes standard metrics and statistics that are reported and used in the organization and the industry.
- Explains the advantages of using data as the basis for decision making.
- Identifies misleading data or data that has been used inappropriately.
- Identifies common sources for data needed to conduct their own work.
- Differentiates between reliable and unreliable sources of data, identifying features of problematic data that may be incomplete or wrong.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a situation where you had to use several sources of data to conduct your work.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you need to find?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
- Describe a situation where you had to compare different data sources to decide which one was more reliable.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you need to achieve?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
Level 2. Interprets data in standard situations.
BEHAVIORS
- Interprets data to draw simple conclusions, identifying common mistakes in understanding data.
- Conducts basic data analysis to answer simple questions or produce routine reports.
- Uses data to illustrate an observation, tell a story, or support an argument.
- Follows standard practices in producing and reporting metrics and statistics.
- Describes key criteria used in evaluating the quality of data and data sources.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a situation where you used data to demonstrate an idea to others.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you need to achieve?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
- Describe a situation where you followed standard practices to report statistics.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you need to deliver?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
Level 3. Uses data to develop insights in a range of activities.
BEHAVIORS
- Identifies common data analytic techniques and their potential use.
- Analyzes data to generate insights that are not apparent.
- Manipulates data using software tools to facilitate analyses.
- Presents data using visualization tools to communicate insights to a variety of audiences.
- Collects various forms of data from a wide range of sources to support problem solving and decision making.
- Evaluates data to identify what is relevant to issues at hand.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a situation where you analyzed data to generate insights.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you need to achieve?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
- Describe a situation where you presented findings from a data analysis to others.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you need to achieve?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
Level 4. Leverages complex data for impact.
BEHAVIORS
- Interprets complex data, including advanced statistics, to identify trends and draw conclusions.
- Translates data-based evidence into actionable knowledge to inform decision making.
- Implements strategies to incorporate data analytics into decision making at different levels of the organization.
- Determines what research and data analytics are needed to address an issue.
- Evaluates data collection and analysis processes to identify potential biases.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a situation where you used results from complex data analyses to form the basis of your decision.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What decision did you need to make?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
- Describe a situation where you evaluated different options for data collection and analysis to find one that best addressed an issue.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What issue did you need to address?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
Level 5. Builds a data literate organization.
BEHAVIORS
- Builds reward systems and infrastructure to promote data-driven, evidence-based decision making across the organization.
- Designs the organization’s data analytics strategy related to leveraging data and improving performance.
- Scans the environment to discover emerging technologies and practices to support a data-driven culture.
- Evaluates the organization’s capability to leverage data, seeking areas for improvement.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a situation where you implemented processes to encourage the use of data in decision making across the organization.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you need to achieve?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?
- Describe a situation where you implemented a strategy to improve the organization’s ability to use data.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you need to achieve?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome?