Data Science
Data Science
Data Science
algorithms, and processes for extracting nonobvious and useful patterns from large data
sets. Many of the elements of data science have been developed in related fields such as
machine learning and data mining. In fact, the terms data science, machine learning, and
data mining are often used interchangeably. The commonality across these disciplines is a
focus on improving decision making through the analysis of data. However, although data
science borrows from these other fields, it is broader in scope. Machine learning (ML)
focuses on the design and evaluation of algorithms for extracting patterns from data. Data
mining generally deals with the analysis of structured data and often implies an emphasis
on commercial applications. Data science takes all of these considerations into account but
also takes up other challenges, such as the capturing, cleaning, and transforming of
unstructured social media and web data; the use of big-data technologies to store and
process big, unstructured data sets; and questions related to data ethics and
regulation.View less
Data science has become a fundamental discipline, both in the field of basic research and in the resolution of
applied problems, where statistics and computer science intersect. Thus, from the perspective of the data itself,
machine learning, operation research, methods and algorithms, and data mining techniques are aligned to
address new challenges characterised by the complexity, volume and heterogeneous nature of data.
It is a multidisciplinary field that has its roots in statistics, math and computer science.
It is one of the most highly sought after jobs due to the abundance of data science
position and a lucrative pay-scale. So, this was a brief to data science, now let’s explore
the pros and cons of data science.
1. It’s in Demand
Data Science is greatly in demand. Prospective job seekers have numerous
opportunities. It is the fastest growing job on Linkedin and is predicted to create 11.5
million jobs by 2026. This makes Data Science a highly employable job sector.
2. Abundance of Positions
There are very few people who have the required skill-set to become a complete
Data Scientist. This makes Data Science less saturated as compared with other IT
sectors.
Therefore, Data Science is a vastly abundant field and has a lot of opportunities. The
field of Data Science is high in demand but low in supply of Data Scientists.
While some people have described Data Science to be the fourth paradigm of Science,
few critics have called it a mere rebranding of Statistics.
While many online courses have been trying to fill the skill-gap that the data science
industry is facing, it is still not possible to be proficient at it considering the immensity
of the field.
A person with a background in Statistics may not be able to master Computer Science on
short notice in order to become a proficient Data Scientist. Therefore, it is an ever-
changing, dynamic field that requires the person to keep learning the various avenues of
Data Science.
This allows the Data Scientists to make calculated decisions in order to assist the
company. However, it becomes difficult for a Data Scientist from a different background
to acquire specific domain knowledge. This also makes it difficult to migrate from one
industry to another.
The personal data of clients are visible to the parent company and may at times cause
data leaks due to lapse in security. The ethical issues regarding preservation of data-
privacy and its usage have been a concern for many industries.
Summary
After weighing the pros and cons of Data Science we are able to envision the full picture
of this field. While Data Science is a field with many lucrative advantages, it
also suffers from its disadvantages.
Being a less-saturated, high paying field that has revolutionized several walks of life, it
also has its own backdrops when considering the immensity of the field and its cross-
disciplinary nature.
Data Science is an ever-evolving field that will take years to gain proficiency. In the end,
it is up to you to decide whether the pros of Data Science motivate you to take this up as
your future career or the cons that help you take a careful decision!
Hope you liked our article on the pros and cons of data science. Share your feedback
through comments.