Exam questions (L.O.3)

Question 1

What is meant by the term ‘Big Data’ ?

Answer 1

Data which is too large/complex to be managed by traditional data processing tools

Question 2

An insurance company has a website. Customers can use the website to request a quote for new
motor insurance. The calculated quote, including the customer details, is stored in the insurance
company’s secure cloud area for retrieval by the customer.
The insurance company uses data analysis tools to analyse and manage the data collected during the
quotation process.

Discuss the use of data analysis tools by the insurance company when analysing and managing their
stored data

Answer 2

Data tables–> (e.g. pie charts and location mapping) can be used to visualise data, by showing the most popular insurance quotes within specific age bands and the different locations they live in.
–>Queries can also be run when data is put into tables
–>Can use geographical patterns to see where the most frequent crashes are.

Question 3

A competition takes place in Leeds. The competition consists of three events: swimming, cycling and
running. There are different classes, for example, girls under 18, men 19–50 and over 55s.

Each competitor pays an entry fee. There are also classes for those who have additional needs such
as visual or physical impairments.
After each event the times for each competitor are recorded.

At the end the times for each event are
added up to provide a total time for the competition.

After the competition has completed, analysis is carried out on the data to identify the competitors in
each class who completed each event in the fastest time.

Identify the data analysis tool that would be used to complete this analysis.

Justify your choice.

Answer 3

Charts and graphs–> because they can be used to identify different facts such as the winners in each category in a visual way, and they can also be used to predict future competitions.

Question 4

(i) Explain what happens during the ‘identify potential sources’ stage of data analysis.

Answer 4

Identify a range of sources, to ensure the source of information used is relevant and reliable and not biased–> in order to meet the objective.

Question 5

(ii) Identify and describe the next data analysis stage.

Answer 5

Select + source information which is useful (+ discard anything which is not useful)

Question 6

(iii) Identify one other data analysis stage.

Answer 6

Identify Need

Question 7

Using an example related to surveys, describe the difference between data and information.

Answer 7

Data is raw, unprocessed facts that are unorganised and have not been put into context, however, information has meaning with context.

Question 8

Explain why the graphs and charts would be included in the marketing, promotion, and sales category
of information.

Answer 8

Gives a visual representation and allows for future prediction on which type of seat is most popular

Question 9

*Owners and customers renting their cottage communicate by email.

Discuss the benefits and limitations of using this communication method

Answer 9

-Emails are relatively fast compared to posting letters as they can be sent and received from any device as long as there is an internet connection
-Emails are also a written record (audit trail)
However, there is no guarantee that a particular email will be sent as it may go to junk mail, meaning there may not be an immediate response

Question 10

8 At the end of each academic year the university analyses the type of courses that have been taken by
students and uses this information to decide what courses to offer in future.

The university uses a Management Information System (MIS) when deciding what courses to offer.

What is the purpose of an MIS?

Answer 10

To analyse data such as the most popular courses taken by students, in order to ensure if they want to keep offering the course or not.

Question 11

(i) A crime prevention charity provides help and assistance to people who have been the victims of crime.

The charity also collects and collates crime statistics for publication on neighbourhood websites.

When the statistics have been collected, they are collated and analysed.
When the statistics have been collated and analysed the visualisation of data analysis tool is used to
present the data.

(i) Justify the use of the visualisation of data analysis tool to present the data.

Answer 11

Visualisation shows analysed data in a clear and easily understandable way, data presented visually can also show trends/patterns.

Question 12

(ii) One type of visualisation of data analysis tool that could be used to present the data is a bar chart.

Identify two other types of visualisation of data analysis tools that could be used to present the
data.

Answer 12

1) Pie Charts
2) Line graph

Question 13

Each car has a tracking system which enables its location to be found.

Identify the data analysis tool the tracking system would be included in.

Answer 13

Location mapping/ GPS

Question 14

A market research company collects, stores and processes data and information for its clients.
The
data and information is collected by email, online surveys and in person.
Primary and secondary data are collected and used by the marketing company.

(i) What is meant by data?

Answer 14

Raw, unprocessed facts and figures which has not been put into context.

Question 15

(ii) Describe one difference between primary and secondary data.

Answer 15

Primary data is collected by an individual, whereas secondary data is collected by a third-party.

Question 16

A market research company collects, stores and processes data and information for its clients.
The
data and information is collected by email, online surveys and in person.

Data analysis is carried out on the data and information to ensure the processing meets the needs of the client.

Identify and describe two stages of data analysis.

Answer 16

1) identify the need, where the information is needed for the person/organisation is identified.

2) Recording and storing data, turning it into information and storing it for future references.

Question 17

A school holds records, in a database, about its students and staff.

The records include personal
details including name, gender, date of birth, any disabilities or medical problems and contact details.
The database uses separate tables to hold details of the students and the staff.

Explain one advantage of using separate tables for students and staff

Answer 17

There are access levels to each table, meaning everyone has different access levels, all students can only access student records and HR can only access staff records.

Question 18

(i) Identify the type of information system structure into which the booking website would be included. (hotel booking website)

Answer 18

Open System

Question 19

(ii) Describe one benefit and one limitation of using this type of information system structure for the
booking website.

Answer 19

Benefit–> enabling interaction with other systems, so that customers can book via the website and payments can be made.

Limitations–> security issue, a security software has to be used so that when payment details are inputted, they are secured from unauthorised access.

Question 20

A library is removing borrowers from its database who have not borrowed a book for three or more years.

Identify the data analysis tool which would be used to complete this task. Justify your choice.

Answer 20

Data Cleaning–> requirement of the GPDR to only keep data until it is required and remove old data.

Question 21

Many organisations have employees who work remotely.

Identify two ways a secured online area could be used by employees to communicate.

Answer 21

1) web conferencing

2) video messaging

Question 22

(b) Explain two benefits of using a secured online area for communication

Answer 22

1)–> increased security because only people with the correct username and passwords can access the online area

2)–> Documents and plans can be posted up

Question 23

Data relating to all of the glasses in stock is stored in the database table ‘Jobs’ (see Fig. 3)

The table contains a wide range of data about the work carried out in the optical workshop.

Justify one data analysis tool the manager of the optical workshop could use to obtain useful information.

Answer 23

Spreadsheet software, because it will allow the manager to organise data related to work orders, customer details, and stock levels. Spreadsheets also have formulas and functions, allowing the manager to calculate costs, analyse trends, and track workshop productivity.

Question 24

Identify one example of an item that could be used to define the scope in phase 2

Answer 24

Item–> Questionnaires (to find out customer needs)

Question 25

Organisations use information to carry out financial analysis and modelling. Explain one way in which an organisation could use financial analysis and modelling.

Answer 25

One way in which an organisation could use financial analysis and modelling is by using it to estimate future revenue via analysing past sales trends and market conditions, therefore allowing them to see their most and least popular items, allowing them to make informed business decisions

Question 26

A dental practice is creating a new contact management system to record details of its patients, appointments and treatments. One of the stages that will occur during the data analysis will be to define the scope. Identify three other stages of data analysis.

Answer 26

1) Identify potential sources 2) Source and select information 3) Select most appropriate tools

Question 27

Describe one benefit and one limitation to the dental practice of using a contact management system.

Answer 27

Benefit--> allows the dental practice to store and manage patient records efficiently, enabling quick access to medical histories, appointment schedules, and treatment plans etc. Limitation--> requires a lot of money to set up (software/hardware/staff training) + maintenance costs.

Question 28

A dental practice is creating a new contact management system to record details of its patients, appointments and treatments. The dental practice is updating its website. The contact management system holds data and information about patients. Using an example relating to the dental surgery, describe the difference between data and information.

Answer 28

Data--> raw, unprocessed facts such as a list of appointments, dates and times stored in the system Information--> Processed and meaningful data used for decision making e.g. a report generated from the system showing the number of patients who had tooth extractions in the last month

Question 29

A Level 1 data flow diagram (DFD) has been created to show an open system. What is meant by an open system?

Answer 29

A system that allows data/information/resources to flow in and out

Question 30

A crime prevention charity provides help and assistance to people who have been the victims of crime. The charity also collects and collates crime statistics for publication on neighbourhood websites. The charity collects some statistics from big data sets. Explain, using an example, what is meant by the term big data.

Answer 30

Big Data--> large datasets that are too complex to be processed and analysed using traditional data management tools. e.g. Police reports used to predict future crime trends (based on historical data).