What reflects the act of assigning information to different groups based on common features?

The correct answer is rooted in the concept of categorization, which involves organizing or grouping items based on shared characteristics or features. In the context of data analytics, categorizing enables analysts to simplify complex data sets by grouping similar items together, allowing for easier analysis and interpretation. This grouping can help identify trends, make comparisons, and draw insights from the data.

While finding patterns involves detecting regularities or trends within data sets, it is a broader concept that may not necessarily require assigning items to specific groups. Making predictions relies on analyzing historical data to forecast future outcomes, which is a different process that often uses models rather than simple grouping. Spotting something unusual refers to identifying outliers or anomalies in data, which again does not involve the process of categorization itself.

Overall, categorizing things not only aids in organizing information but also serves as a foundational step in many data analysis processes, making it key to understanding and working with data effectively.