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EDF Certified Data Literacy Professional

DATA LITERACY certified by

About the best practice

IP owner:Effective Data Foundation®
Accreditation institute:Van Haren Certify
Examination institute:certN

Numbers are central to our understanding of performance. They enable us to make informed decisions. The way we determine success or failure is almost always based on numbers. We derive significant value from the stories that numbers tell. Yet, we need to consider the significance of how we use them.

Data literacy is an umbrella term to cover all the skills required to understand, work with and share data effectively. Understanding data requires a set of skills that are easy to learn but needs to be more intuitive. None of us are born with the capacity to understand data: it is a human abstract construct, so we all need to learn how to work with it. We can learn much from our data to improve our processes and lives. But before we get to the value of data, we need to understand better what data is and isn’t.

Certification definition

The EDF Data literacy certification is part of the Effective Data Foundation portfolio. It signifies an individual’s comprehensive understanding and awareness of data literacy, enabling them to foster its adoption and application for informed decision-making.

Certified candidates have demonstrated their ability to comprehend the nature of data, ask critical questions, summarize data accurately, and understand the processes involved. They possess knowledge of data quality, utilize data for performance measurement, and are conscious of the impact of expectations and biases in analysis. Certified candidates recognize human biases, understand different types of data analysis, consider contextual factors, and apply storytelling principles to communicate data arguments effectively.

Certification requirements

Candidates can become certified by passing the EDF Data Literacy certification exam.

Vouchers for the certification exam are available through accredited trainers and Van Haren Group.

Certificate renewal

The EDF Data literacy certificate is valid for two years.

Exam format

The general exam regulations apply to this exam.
Attempts per voucher:1
Number of questions:60
Passing score:65%
Time:60 minutes
Open-book:No
Language:

English

Invigilation:

None

Question type:Multiple choice

Exam Syllabus

The following table is an overview of the topics examined in the certification exam.
#questions Level(s) of Cognition Category
1 2 3
15 ✓ ✓ Reading data
  • Describe the key properties of data
  • Describe how to summarize data
  • Recognize typical pitfalls when consuming data
  • Describe the main questions to check any data expression
15 ✓ ✓ Working with data
  • Describe how data is created
  • Describe the differences between machine and human generated data
  • Describe the differences between mandatory and optional data
  • Recognize the data quality dimensions
  • Recognize the best data structure for analysis
  • Describe the three basic data cleaning phases
  • Describe how to define performance measures
15 ✓ ✓ Analyzing data
  • Recognize the impact of our expectations on our analysis results
  • Describe the principal thinking shortcuts
  • Describe the main types of analysis
  • Describe the main analytical skills
15 ✓ ✓ Arguing with data
  • Describe the key properties of the Explore phase
  • Describe the key properties of the Explain phase
  • Recognize the activities belonging to a specific phase
  • Describe the typical data forgeries
  • Describe the main steps in the data storytelling arc
More information about the levels of cognition
  • Level 1 - Knowledge: This level requires candidates to recall specific information or facts. They should demonstrate the ability to remember and recognize details, terms, or concepts from their learning materials.
  • Level 2 - Comprehension: At this level, candidates are expected to show their understanding of the acquired information. They should be able to interpret, explain, and summarize. Candidates must go beyond mere memorization and demonstrate that they can grasp the meaning and implications of the information they have learned.
  • Level 3 - Application: The focus at this level is on candidates’ ability to apply their acquired knowledge in practical situations. They should be able to use what they have learned to solve problems, apply principles, or implement strategies in real-world scenarios.
  • Level 4 - Analysis: Analysis involves candidates breaking down complex concepts into smaller parts and comprehending the relationships between them. Candidates must display the ability to analyze information, identify components, and understand the underlying connections between them.
  • Level 5 - Synthesis: At this level, candidates are expected to exhibit the ability to create something new by combining different ideas, concepts, or elements. Candidates must demonstrate their capacity to generate hypotheses, design experiments, or develop original solutions to problems. Synthesis involves creativity and the integration of different elements to form a novel whole.
  • Level 6 - Evaluation: This level requires candidates to use judgments or assessments based on criteria and evidence. Candidates must critically analyze information, compare and contrast different perspectives, and make informed decisions. They should demonstrate the ability to evaluate the quality, validity, and reliability of information, arguments, or solutions.

Reference Material

The reference material for the EDF Data Literacy Professional exam is as follows:

EDF Data Literacy Professional Courseware

Trainer accreditation

Van Haren Learning Solutions organizes the trainer accreditation for this certification program. More information on the accreditation process can be found on their website.