How to answer this Technical interview question about Data Cleaning for Any Data Analyst?

How would you handle missing or incomplete data in a dataset you are analyzing?

Data Analyst

Technical

Asked at

IBM

Difficulty :

Medium

Explanation

Handling missing data is a common challenge in data analysis, and this question assesses your technical skills and decision-making ability. Recruiters want to see if you can handle these situations methodically and minimize bias in your analysis. A strong answer demonstrates your understanding of techniques like imputation, exclusion, or using algorithms that handle missing data. Avoid vague answers without mentioning specific methods. Including a real-world example of how you addressed missing data will make your response more impactful.

Answer Example

When handling missing data, I first analyze the extent and distribution of missing values. If the missing data is minimal, I may exclude those records to avoid introducing bias. For larger gaps, I use imputation techniques like mean, median, or predictive modeling, depending on the nature of the data. For example, in a customer segmentation project, I used k-Nearest Neighbors imputation to fill missing age values, ensuring the dataset remained complete without compromising the analysis. This approach allowed me to deliver accurate insights while maintaining data integrity.

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