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There are 5 modules in this course
Whether being used to customize advertising to millions of website visitors or streamline inventory ordering at a small restaurant, data is becoming more integral to success. Too often, we’re not sure how use data to find answers to the questions that will make us more successful in what we do. In this course, you will discover what data is and think about what questions you have that can be answered by the data – even if you’ve never thought about data before. Based on existing data, you will learn to develop a research question, describe the variables and their relationships, calculate basic statistics, and present your results clearly. By the end of the course, you will be able to use powerful data analysis tools – either SAS or Python – to manage and visualize your data, including how to deal with missing data, variable groups, and graphs. Throughout the course, you will share your progress with others to gain valuable feedback, while also learning how your peers use data to answer their own questions.
We would like to welcome you to Wesleyan University's Data Analysis and Interpretation Specialization. In this session, we will discuss the basics of data analysis. Your task will be to select a data set that you would like to work with and to review available code books that help you develop your own research question. You will also set up a Tumblr blog that will allow you to reflect on these experiences, submit assignments and share your work with others throughout the course. First, you may want to check out the welcome video
What's included
5 videos5 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 31 minutes
Welcome Video•6 minutes
Video Lesson - Steps in data analysis•7 minutes
Video Lesson - What do we mean by data?•5 minutes
Video Lesson - Datasets and codebooks•7 minutes
Video Lesson - Developing a research question•6 minutes
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
Course codebooks•10 minutes
Course Data Sets•10 minutes
Getting Set Up for the Assignments•10 minutes
Tumblr Instructions•10 minutes
Troubleshooting Your Tumblr Assignment Blog Link•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Getting Your Research Project Started•60 minutes
Writing your first program - SAS or Python
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this session, we will discuss how to write a basic program that allows you to load a data set and examine frequency distributions. Your task will be to write a program that helps you to explore the variables you have selected for your own research question. You may choose either Python or SAS. Both are made freely available, and we have created a helpful guide to support you in making the decision. Once you have selected your platform, just follow the instructions in the appropriate "GETTING STARTED...." file, and then check out this week's video lessons aimed at helping you write and run your first program. You need only view the lessons for one of the statistical platforms (SAS or Python).
What's included
8 videos8 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 58 minutes
SAS Lesson 1 - Defining exploratory data analysis•3 minutes
SAS Lesson 2 - SAS coding conventions•9 minutes
SAS Lesson 3 - Running your program and examining frequency distribution•10 minutes
SAS Lesson 4 - Refining your research question by selecting rows•6 minutes
Python Lesson 1 - Defining Exploratory Data Analysis•3 minutes
Python Lesson 3 - Running your program and examining frequency distributions•10 minutes
Python Lesson 4 - Refining your research question by selecting rows•7 minutes
8 readings•Total 80 minutes
Choosing SAS or Python•10 minutes
Getting Started with SAS•10 minutes
Getting Started with Python•10 minutes
Codebook for Video Examples•10 minutes
SAS Program for Video Examples•10 minutes
Python Program for Video Examples•10 minutes
Uploading Your Own Data to SAS•10 minutes
Assignment Sample•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Running Your First Program•60 minutes
Managing Data
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this session, we will help you to make and implement even more decisions with data. Statisticians often call this task 'data management', while computer scientists like the term 'data munging'. Whatever you call it, it is a vital and ongoing process when working with data. Your task will be to write a program that manages the variables you have selected for your own research question.
What's included
8 videos4 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 45 minutes
SAS Lesson 1 - Setting aside missing data•6 minutes
SAS Lesson 2 - Coding in valid data and recoding values•3 minutes
SAS Lesson 3 - Creating secondary variables•7 minutes
SAS Lesson 4 - Grouping variables within individual variables•3 minutes
Python Lesson 4 - Grouping values within individual variables•4 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
SAS Program for Video Examples•10 minutes
Python Program for Video Examples•10 minutes
Codebook for Video Examples•10 minutes
Assignment Sample•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Making Data Management Decisions•60 minutes
Visualizing Data
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this session we will discuss descriptive statistics and get you visualizing your newly data managed variables individually and as graphs showing the relationships between them.
What's included
12 videos5 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
12 videos•Total 108 minutes
SAS Lesson 1 - Graphing individual variables•6 minutes
SAS Lesson 2 - Describing distributions visually•7 minutes
SAS Lesson 3 - Measures of center and spread•12 minutes
SAS Lesson 4 - Designing the role each of your variables will play•5 minutes
SAS Lesson 5 - Graphing decisions: categorical response variables•13 minutes
SAS Lesson 6 - Graphing decisions: quantitative response variable•10 minutes
Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand. With our distinctive scholar-teacher culture, creative programming, and commitment to interdisciplinary learning, Wesleyan challenges students to explore new ideas and change the world. Our graduates go on to lead and innovate in a wide variety of industries, including government, business, entertainment, and science.
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Learner reviews
4.4
945 reviews
5 stars
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4 stars
23.83%
3 stars
6.14%
2 stars
2.01%
1 star
3.91%
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AK
5·
Reviewed on Jan 15, 2021
Great for a beginner.. the flexibility which is given by the course with our thoughts and imaginations was too good.. must-do for anyone to begin the Data Analysis career <3
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AR
5·
Reviewed on Jun 1, 2020
I learnt a lot from this course in data management and visualization and enjoyed the assignment parts of the course. I also gained insights in making data management decisions!
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SA
5·
Reviewed on Jun 30, 2018
This was a great course for beginners in Python. I found all the videos to be detailed and helpful in understanding the code and programming in Python
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.