An Introduction to Data Analysis using Aggregation Functions in R

Abstract

This introduction to the area of aggregation and data analysis is intended for computer science or business students who are interested in tools for summarizing and interpreting data, but who do not necessarily have a formal mathematics back- ground. It was motivated by our need for such a text in postgraduate data analytics subjects at my university; however it could also be of interest to undergraduate data science students. By reading through the chapters and completing the questions, you will be introduced to some of the issues that can arise when we try to make sense of data. It is hoped that you will gain an appreciation for the usefulness of the results established in the field of data aggregation and their wide applicability. I personally find the study of aggregation functions to be very enjoyable and fulfilling, as it allows for a nice mix of theoretically interesting results and practical applications. The rise of data analytics and the growing need for companies to learn more from their data also make the need for intelligent data aggregation techniques more indispensable than ever.