C02 — Data Collection & Analytical Diagrams

Hamilton College · Year 12 · 2026

The second SAT checkpoint covers how you gather evidence about your client's needs and how you model the system you are about to build. You will collect data from real people, prepare it for analysis, and produce three analytical diagrams — all under timed, hand-drawn conditions.

Start here

• Essential Terms — glossary of every C02 term (data collection, the three diagrams, qual/quant); click each term to expand its definition

Topics — Data collection (C2-1)

• Data Collection Methods — the four methods (interview, survey, observation, report) — when to use each, strengths/weaknesses, recommended 3-method mix
• Explaining vs Describing Your Data Collection — the exact rubric difference between 7–8 and 9–10 for Indicator 1; worked examples of each level

Topics — Analytical diagrams (C2-2)

• Context Diagram — Yourdon-DeMarco notation, a worked example, "draw it / check it" steps, common mistakes
• Context Diagram vs Data Flow Diagram — what can appear on each diagram, side-by-side; the most common notation errors in C2-2
• Use Case Diagram (UCD) — actors, use cases, system boundary, and the four relationships; arrow-direction rules for «include» / «extend»
• What Is an Entity? — why entities include external systems (APIs, email servers) as well as human users; how to find every entity from your user stories
• Excalidraw Diagram Starters — pre-framed skeletons for all three C02 diagrams (context diagram, DFD, use case diagram) with shape keys and notation checks (DRAFT)

Resources

• C02 Resources — per-topic reading and videos, including external resources for use case diagrams, qualitative vs quantitative data, and «include» vs «extend»

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