Summary and Setup

This lesson aims to teach those just starting to undertake research how to manage their data and files.

After completing this course, the learners should be able to:

  • Define research data and distinguish between different data types.
  • Structure research materials using clear file naming conventions and a logical folder hierarchy
  • Describe methods of data collection that make data cleaner and easier to analyse
  • Detect inconsistencies and errors in a tabular dataset (“dirty data”)
  • Use a set of basic techniques to remove/correct errors and inconsistencies in tabular data (“cleaning data”)
  • Use version control to track different versions of files, and switch between them.

Prerequisite knowledge

Before coming to this training, learners should have:

  • Basic spreadsheet skills (e.g., opening and saving tables)
  • Ability to create, delete, and move files on a computer (Windows, Mac or Linux)
  • A research project in progress or data to work with

Before joining the workshop, please complete the data and software setup described in this page.

Data Sets

Download the txt file of example data and save it somewhere easily accessible on your computer.

This file is a shortened and modified version of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Open Access CSV, released under a CC0 license on github.

Software Setup

Details

This workshop requires access to a spreadsheet program. For example: Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice, Apple Numbers, Gnumeric, Onlyoffice, WPS office, among others.

We encourage you to use Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice (a free, open source alternative). Installation instructions are provided below for LibreOffice:

  • Download the Installer
    Install LibreOffice by going to the installation page. The version for Windows should automatically be selected. Click Download. You will go to a page that asks about a donation, but you don’t need to make one. Your download should begin automatically.
  • Install LibreOffice
    Once the installer is downloaded, double click on it and it should install.
  • Download the Installer
    Install LibreOffice by going to the installation page. The version for macOS should automatically be selected. Click Download. You will go to a page that asks about a donation, but you don’t need to make one. Your download should begin automatically.
  • Install LibreOffice
    The file LibreOffice_X.X.X_MacOS_x86-64 (whichever version of LibreOffice you have selected) should have been downloaded. Double click on this file, and LibreOffice will be installed.
  • Download the Installer
    Install LibreOffice by going to the installation page. The version for Linux should automatically be selected. Click Download. You will go to a page that asks about a donation, but you don’t need to make one. Your download should begin automatically.
  • Install LibreOffice
    Once the installer is downloaded, double click on it and it should install.