True, although while the more practical mechanics of programming for data analysis can be learned easily, I wouldn't underestimate the time taken to really learn how to be scientific in thinking about and analysing data.
I feel like the skill-set involved in digging for stories in data can sometimes be at odds with a scientific approach---which requires a lot of rigour and self-honesty before claiming some observed trend is significant, and in avoiding the temptation to over-interpret or over-extrapolate.
Of course this may or may not be a problem, depending on what you're trying to do (entertain? persuade? understand? model? predict?)
I feel like the skill-set involved in digging for stories in data can sometimes be at odds with a scientific approach---which requires a lot of rigour and self-honesty before claiming some observed trend is significant, and in avoiding the temptation to over-interpret or over-extrapolate.
Of course this may or may not be a problem, depending on what you're trying to do (entertain? persuade? understand? model? predict?)