A Citizen Data Scientist is an individual who, while not formally trained as a professional data scientist, possesses the skills and tools to perform data analysis tasks typically associated with data scientists. They are often business professionals or domain experts who work with data to extract insights and make data-driven decisions within their respective fields. Here are some key characteristics and aspects of Citizen Data Scientists:

1. Domain Knowledge: Citizen Data Scientists typically have a deep understanding of their specific industry or domain, whether it’s healthcare, finance, marketing, or any other field. This domain expertise allows them to ask relevant questions and interpret data in context.

2. Data Proficiency: They have a good grasp of data handling and analysis using tools like spreadsheets (e.g., Excel), data visualization tools, and self-service analytics platforms. These tools enable them to work with data without needing advanced programming skills.

3. Data Preparation: Citizen Data Scientists can clean and preprocess data, which involves tasks like data cleaning, transformation, and feature engineering to make data analysis-ready.

4. Data Visualization: They are skilled in creating data visualizations and dashboards to communicate insights effectively to non-technical stakeholders. Tools like Tableau, Power BI, or data visualization libraries in Python can be part of their toolkit.

5. Statistical Analysis: Citizen Data Scientists may have a basic understanding of statistical concepts and techniques, allowing them to perform descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and trend analysis.

6. Machine Learning: While they may not build complex machine learning models from scratch, Citizen Data Scientists can utilize pre-built machine learning models and platforms to perform tasks like predictive modeling, classification, or clustering.

7. Data-Driven Decision-Making: They use data analysis to inform decision-making processes within their organizations, helping to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.

8. Collaboration: Citizen Data Scientists often collaborate with professional data scientists, data engineers, and IT teams to leverage their expertise and bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders.

9. Ethical Considerations: They are aware of data privacy and ethical considerations when working with data and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

10. Continuous Learning: Citizen Data Scientists are typically eager to expand their data analysis skills and stay updated with new tools and techniques in the field.