What is statistical analysis?

Statistical analysis is the process of collecting and organizing data in order to observe patterns in that data. This discipline examines numerical data for trends, and it has practical applications across multiple industries and business sectors. Statistical analysts can examine large or small amounts of data to determine what the data shows—and what should be done with that information. The business world has relied on statistical analysis for years, but the advent of computer technology has made analyzing large amounts of data increasingly easy. Computers allow statisticians to analyze copious amounts of data and look for more specific patterns and trends than ever before.

Why is statistical analysis important?

Statistical analysis is important because it helps you make sense—and make use—of data. No matter what industry you work in, you see data every day. You may not know how to interpret the data, or there may just be too much data to understand on its own merits. Using statistical analysis can help you interpret key patterns in your data and sort out extraneous information to understand what the data means and what you should do about it. If you have a background in statistical analysis, you can also test or disprove any analysis that you receive from someone else as well.

What are typical careers that use statistical analysis?

A thorough knowledge of statistical analysis can help you find a career in the financial sector, information technology, or other areas of the business world. You can find jobs giving businesses advice on how to invest or how to manage their money more efficiently, or you can consult with companies on how to budget for large projects. Market research jobs rely on statistical analysis skills, while software engineers analyze data to develop and test new and updated applications. Data scientists work with various organizations to help them identify patterns and trends in their field of business.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn statistical analysis?

From courses that introduce you to the basics of statistical analysis to more specific topics like hypothesis testing, data analysis in the health care industry, or risk management, you can gain a confident base of knowledge from online courses on Coursera. Specific topics you can discover include using logistic regression in R, survival analysis in R, bias and validity in epidemiology, statistics with Python, and data analytics.

What are the benefits of taking an online Statistical Analysis course?

Online Statistical Analysis courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Statistical Analysis skills. Choose from a wide range of Statistical Analysis courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Statistical Analysis courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Statistical Analysis, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Statistical Analysis Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Statistical Analysis Course Catalog

Status: Preview
Stanford University
Introduction to Statistics
Skills you'll gain: Statistics, Descriptive Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Inference, Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Data Science, Regression Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Probability, Probability Distribution
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
4.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Statistical Analysis Fundamentals using Excel
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Data Analysis, Probability Distribution, Statistics, Regression Analysis, Statistical Methods, Forecasting, Probability & Statistics, Microsoft Excel, Sales
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
93 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Imperial College London
Statistical Analysis with R for Public Health
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Correlation Analysis, Sampling (Statistics), Probability Distribution, Statistical Analysis, Statistics, Regression Analysis, Quantitative Research, Data Analysis, Biostatistics, Data Quality, Statistical Inference, R Programming, Public Health, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Modeling, Epidemiology, Predictive Modeling, Probability & Statistics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Macquarie University
Statistics and Data Analysis with Excel: Advanced
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Regression Analysis, Forecasting, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Statistical Analysis, Advanced Analytics, Predictive Analytics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Data Analysis, Statistics, Statistical Inference, Probability & Statistics, Data Visualization Software
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Business Statistics and Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Regression Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Business Analytics, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis, Statistics, Histogram, Pivot Tables And Charts, Forecasting, Risk Analysis, Probability Distribution, Graphing, Statistical Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Scatter Plots, Analytics, Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
13K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Coursera Project Network
Introduction to Data Analysis using Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Pivot Tables And Charts, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis, Data Mining, Document Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.2K reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

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Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Statistics with Python
Skills you'll gain: Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Methods, Bayesian Statistics, Data Visualization, Data Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Inference, Regression Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Box Plots, Statistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Histogram, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Programming, Statistical Machine Learning, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Python Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Data Analysis with Python
Skills you'll gain: Data Wrangling, Predictive Modeling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Import/Export, Statistical Modeling, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Regression Analysis, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Predictive Analytics, Data Cleansing, Correlation Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Machine Learning Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Python Programming
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
19K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Statistical Inference
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Inference, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Methods, Statistical Modeling, Statistics, Probability & Statistics, Probability, Probability Distribution, Sampling (Statistics)
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
4.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Excel Basics for Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Data Cleansing, Excel Formulas, Data Quality, Data Analysis, Business Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Analytical Skills, Data Manipulation, Spreadsheet Software, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Entry, Data Science, Data Integrity, Information Privacy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
10K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Data Analysis with R
Skills you'll gain: Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Regression Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Inference, R Programming, Bayesian Statistics, Data Analysis, Probability Distribution, Probability, Statistics, Quantitative Research, Statistical Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Correlation Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Mathematical Modeling, Predictive Modeling, Descriptive Statistics, Data Visualization
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
SAS
Introduction to Statistical Analysis: Hypothesis Testing
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Analysis, Correlation Analysis, SAS (Software), Regression Analysis, Statistical Methods, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Modeling, Plot (Graphics), Data Analysis, Statistical Inference
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
170 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks