data-validate

name	data-validate
description	QA an analysis before sharing -- methodology, accuracy, and bias checks

Validate Analysis

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Review an analysis for accuracy, methodology, and potential biases before sharing with stakeholders. Generates a confidence assessment and improvement suggestions.

Usage

You can ask to validate an analysis (e.g., "Validate this report" or "Check my query logic").

Arguments

• analysis to review — A document, report, SQL query, chart, or description of methodology

Workflow

1. Review Methodology and Assumptions

Examine:

• Question framing: Is the analysis answering the right question? Could the question be interpreted differently?
• Data selection: Are the right tables/datasets being used? Is the time range appropriate?
• Population definition: Is the analysis population correctly defined? Are there unintended exclusions?
• Metric definitions: Are metrics defined clearly and consistently? Do they match how stakeholders understand them?
• Baseline and comparison: Is the comparison fair? Are time periods, cohort sizes, and contexts comparable?

2. Check for Common Analytical Errors

Systematically review for:

Data completeness:

• Missing data that could skew results (e.g., nulls in key fields, missing time periods)
• Data freshness issues (is the most recent data actually complete or still loading?)
• Survivorship bias (are you only looking at entities that "survived" to the analysis date?)

Statistical issues:

• Simpson's paradox (trend reverses when data is aggregated vs. segmented)
• Correlation presented as causation without supporting evidence
• Small sample sizes leading to unreliable conclusions
• Outliers disproportionately affecting averages (should medians be used instead?)
• Multiple testing / cherry-picking significant results

Aggregation errors:

• Double-counting from improper joins (many-to-many explosions)
• Incorrect denominators in rate calculations
• Mixing granularity levels (e.g., user-level metrics averaged with account-level)
• Revenue recognized vs. billed vs. collected confusion

Time-related issues:

• Seasonality not accounted for in comparisons
• Incomplete periods included in averages (e.g., partial month compared to full months)
• Timezone inconsistencies between data sources
• Look-ahead bias (using future information to explain past events)

Selection and scope:

• Cherry-picked time ranges that favor a particular narrative
• Excluded segments without justification
• Changing definitions mid-analysis

3. Verify Calculations and Aggregations

Where possible, spot-check:

• Recalculate a few key numbers independently
• Verify that subtotals sum to totals
• Check that percentages sum to 100% (or close to it) where expected
• Confirm that YoY/MoM comparisons use the correct base periods
• Validate that filters are applied consistently across all metrics

4. Assess Visualizations

If the analysis includes charts:

• Do axes start at appropriate values (zero for bar charts)?
• Are scales consistent across comparison charts?
• Do chart titles accurately describe what's shown?
• Could the visualization mislead a quick reader?
• Are there truncated axes, inconsistent intervals, or 3D effects that distort perception?

5. Evaluate Narrative and Conclusions

Review whether:

• Conclusions are supported by the data shown
• Alternative explanations are acknowledged
• Uncertainty is communicated appropriately
• Recommendations follow logically from findings
• The level of confidence matches the strength of evidence

6. Suggest Improvements

Provide specific, actionable suggestions:

• Additional analyses that would strengthen the conclusions
• Caveats or limitations that should be noted
• Better visualizations or framings for key points
• Missing context that stakeholders would want

7. Generate Confidence Assessment

Rate the analysis on a 3-level scale:

Ready to share -- Analysis is methodologically sound, calculations verified, caveats noted. Minor suggestions for improvement but nothing blocking.

Share with noted caveats -- Analysis is largely correct but has specific limitations or assumptions that must be communicated to stakeholders. List the required caveats.

Needs revision -- Found specific errors, methodological issues, or missing analyses that should be addressed before sharing. List the required changes with priority order.

Output Format

## Validation Report

### Overall Assessment: [Ready to share | Share with caveats | Needs revision]

### Methodology Review
[Findings about approach, data selection, definitions]

### Issues Found
1. [Severity: High/Medium/Low] [Issue description and impact]
2. ...

### Calculation Spot-Checks
- [Metric]: [Verified / Discrepancy found]
- ...

### Visualization Review
[Any issues with charts or visual presentation]

### Suggested Improvements
1. [Improvement and why it matters]
2. ...

### Required Caveats for Stakeholders
- [Caveat that must be communicated]
- ...

Tips

• Run validation before any high-stakes presentation or decision
• Even quick analyses benefit from a sanity check -- it takes a minute and can save your credibility
• If the validation finds issues, fix them and re-validate
• Share the validation output alongside your analysis to build stakeholder confidence