Metrics can be paired with dimensions of the same scope. In Google Analytics, dimensions and metrics are used to analyze and understand user behavior on a website or app. Each dimension represents a characteristic or attribute of the data, while metrics quantify and measure the data.
To effectively analyze data, it is important to understand the scope of dimensions and metrics. There are three levels of scope: user-level, session-level, and hit-level. User-level scope means that the dimension or metric applies to the entire user, session-level scope applies to a specific session, and hit-level scope applies to individual interactions or events within a session.
When combining dimensions and metrics, it is generally recommended to pair those that share the same scope. This ensures that the analysis is accurate and meaningful. For example, combining a user-level dimension with a session-level metric may not provide relevant insights.
Let’s consider some examples to illustrate this concept. If we have a dimension like “Source/Medium” which indicates the source of traffic to a website, it would make sense to pair it with session-level metrics like “Sessions” or “Bounce Rate”. These metrics provide insights into overall user behavior during a session and can be analyzed based on different traffic sources.
On the other hand, if we have a hit-level dimension like “Page” which represents the specific page a user visited, it would be appropriate to pair it with hit-level metrics such as “Pageviews” or “Time on Page”. These metrics help us understand the performance of individual pages and how users interact with them.
It’s worth noting that there are some dimensions and metrics that have a wider scope and can be used across different levels. For example, the dimension “Device Category” (desktop, mobile, tablet) can be paired with metrics at the user, session, or hit level, depending on the analysis being performed.
In my personal experience working with Google Analytics, I have found that pairing dimensions and metrics of the same scope provides more accurate and actionable insights. It allows for a deeper understanding of user behavior and helps in identifying patterns and trends. However, it is important to carefully select the dimensions and metrics based on the analysis objectives to ensure the most meaningful results.
To summarize, metrics can be paired with dimensions of the same scope in Google Analytics. It is important to understand the scope of dimensions and metrics (user-level, session-level, or hit-level) and select appropriate combinations for analysis. By doing so, we can gain valuable insights into user behavior and make data-driven decisions.