Data Analysis & Visualization
It’s spreadsheet time! You’ll learn to do some data manipulation in Excel (or similar) and how a simple spreadsheet can become many different visualizations.
Read, view, and listen
- Gregory, Ben. “Data Formats 101.” Astronomer, n.d. https://www.astronomer.io/blog/data-formats-101 (article, 5 min.)
- “Data Cleaning” (article, 5 min.)
- “Data Cleaning IS Analysis, Not Grunt Work” (article, 23 min.)
- “Data Visualization” (podcast, 54 min., but you can skip the music unless, you know, you’re into it)
- Johanna Drucker, “Humanities Approaches to Graphical Display” (article, 44 min.).
- “8 Examples of Powerful Data Storytelling” (just click around and investigate the examples)
In-class activities
Slides: Data Management Basics
Summary of good data management practices
Hands-On Tutorials
Because the class has a wide range of experience with Excel, today’s activities have a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure aspect to them. Please select the path that reflects your own experience and interests.
Please note that this week’s homework will require you to use VLOOKUP and create a pivot table. (An alternative assignment is available for the tech-confident.)
I need to learn some Excel basics
The second slide of the Excel tutorial will show you how to brush up on some basic Excel skills and terminology. Then continue through the Excel tutorial, followed by the Flourish tutorial.
I need to learn to make a pivot table and use VLOOKUP.
Start with the Excel tutorial. When you’re done, you can continue on to the Flourish tutorial.
I already know how to make a pivot table and use VLOOKUP.
Learn about OpenRefine instead. OpenRefine is a tool that helps you clean up data. You can download it here. If your Mac won’t let you open OpenRefine, press CONTROL, click on the OpenRefine application, and select OPEN from the menu.
Once you’re done with OpenRefine, you can continue to the Flourish tutorial.
I already know about OpenRefine and Flourish.
Get better at OpenRefine! Work through chapters 3 and 4 of Using OpenRefine. (You’ll need to use the UCLA VPN and click on the EBSCO link for online access.)
Alternately, you can learn how to use R for data cleanup. (You might find this quick intro to R helpful.)