Final answer:
The data analyst is in the Data Exploration phase, where patterns and relationships within the data are identified. This is distinct from data collection, cleaning, or modeling.
Step-by-step explanation:
The data analyst examining a data set to determine patterns would be in the Data Exploration phase of analysis. This phase involves looking for patterns, anomalies, or relationships within the data that could lead to insights or hypotheses. It differs from Data Collection, which is the gathering of raw data, and Data Cleaning, which is the process of ensuring data quality and correcting any errors. Data Modeling, on the other hand, involves creating models that predict or simulate outcomes based on the data. The exploration phase plays a crucial role in understanding the data and setting the stage for any future modeling.