Description: Preliminary analysis is an initial examination of data that is conducted to identify relevant trends and patterns before performing a deeper analysis. This process is fundamental in data preprocessing, as it allows analysts and data scientists to gain a basic understanding of the structure and characteristics of the data they are working with. During this phase, anomalies, outliers, and errors that could affect the final results can be detected. Furthermore, preliminary analysis helps establish hypotheses and research questions, thus guiding the focus of subsequent analysis. The tools and techniques used in this stage may include graphical visualizations, descriptive statistics, and data summaries, which facilitate the identification of patterns and relationships between variables. In summary, preliminary analysis is a crucial step that lays the groundwork for more rigorous and informed data analysis, ensuring that data-driven decisions are informed and accurate.
