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Data Management and Visualization

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.

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Syllabus

Selecting a research question

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

Writing your first program - SAS or Python

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).

Managing Data

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.

Visualizing Data

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.

Supplemental Materials (All Weeks)

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Helps learners with data analysis questions they may not have thought of otherwise

Teaches data analysis for real-world use

Develops data analysis skills and knowledge for career success

Covers a range of data analysis methods and tools

Includes hands-on practice and exercises

Taught by data analysis experts

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Reviews summary

Positive reviews for data management & visualization

Learners say this well received course on data management and visualization is largely positive. The course engaging assignments in Python and SAS, informative videos, and well organized materials receive frequent praise. However, some learners had technical issues with the course materials and others found the content difficult at the start.

Learners frequently praised the informative videos in this course.

"Started from scratch and amazing video instructions that were super clear!"

"Great and easy explained videos!"

"Excellent course. I deeply appreciate my learning from the course. Thank you."

Learners found the videos and reading materials well organized and helpful.

"Videos and reading materials were very helpful and provided all the tools and strategies necessary to complete the assignments."

Students enjoyed the hands-on assignments that allowed them to apply their learning.

"Wonderful assignments really helped me to gain some practical knowledge."

"This is a good course to whom wants a macro introduction to Data Management along with some basics of Python programmation for data analysis. Python was actually for me the main learning.The course is very practical with proposed use cases and you can also bring your own one."

"The course requires to submit 4 assignments in which you can apply the basic skills learnt with SAS or Python. This is useful to effectively learn how to use these softwares."

Students found working with Python and SAS valuable and a primary reason for liking the course.

"I have enrolled to different similar courses and this one by far was the best. The approach they are taking helps you become independent and project oriented which is a great thing. Highly recommended."

"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!"

"very informative and Videos are really helpful"

A few learners experienced technical issues that affected their learning.

"Some of the presented python code has been depreciated; this would be particularly challenging for students new to the code."

"Error on one link provided though, but I've reported that :)"

Some learners report that the beginning of this course is difficult for beginners.

"This course is not suitable for beginners at all."

"Unfortunately, I have to admit that I am not coping and am leaving this course."

"I found it brief, little more description and practical examples and assignments could be better to hand good handson."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Data Management and Visualization with these activities:

Review statistics concepts

Show steps

Ensure a strong foundation for the course by reviewing key statistical concepts.

Browse courses on Statistics

Show steps

Identify areas of statistics that need reinforcement
Review notes, textbooks, or online resources
Complete practice problems

Read "Data Science for Business"

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of the fundamentals of data science by reading a foundational book on the subject.

View Data Science for Business: What You Need to... on Amazon

Show steps

Purchase or borrow a copy of the book
Read the book and take notes
Complete the exercises and assignments in the book

Attend a data analysis workshop

Show steps

Gain practical experience and insights by attending a workshop focused on data analysis techniques or tools.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

Show steps

Identify a workshop that aligns with your interests and learning goals
Register for the workshop
Attend the workshop and actively participate

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Join a study group with other students

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Enhance your learning by engaging in discussions, sharing insights, and working together on data analysis projects with other students.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

Show steps

Find a study group or create your own
Meet regularly to discuss course material, work on assignments, and prepare for exams
Take turns presenting your findings and leading discussions

Practice writing SAS or Python code

Show steps

Complete plenty of practice drills to strengthen your grasp of SAS or Python syntax and data analysis techniques.

Browse courses on SAS

Show steps

Choose a data set that you're interested in and load it into SAS or Python
Write code to generate summary statistics for the data
Plot the data in a variety of ways to explore the relationships between the variables
Practice manipulating the data using SAS or Python functions

Explore SAS or Python online tutorials

Show steps

Extend your knowledge by exploring online tutorials that provide step-by-step instructions for specific data analysis tasks.

Browse courses on SAS

Show steps

Identify an aspect of data analysis that you'd like to learn more about
Search for an online tutorial that covers the topic
Follow the tutorial instructions and complete the exercises

Develop a data analysis project

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of data analysis by undertaking a project that involves collecting, cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing data.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

Show steps

Identify a question or problem that you want to solve using data
Collect data from relevant sources
Clean and prepare the data for analysis
Analyze the data using SAS or Python techniques
Visualize the results in a clear and informative way
Write a report or presentation to communicate your findings

Create a data visualization dashboard

Show steps

Strengthen your data visualization skills by creating a dashboard that presents key insights from a data set.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

Show steps

Identify the data set you want to use
Choose a data visualization tool
Design and create the dashboard
Share your dashboard with others

Career center

Learners who complete Data Management and Visualization will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their skills in mathematics, statistics, and computer science to extract knowledge and insights from data. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Data Scientist. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in data science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Data Analyst

Data Analysts work on the frontlines of business, using data to find and solve problems that improve their organizations. This course, Data Management and Visualization, will help you build a foundation in data analysis. You will learn how to manage and visualize data, two essential skills for any Data Analyst. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use data to make investment recommendations. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Financial Analyst. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in financial analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use data to help businesses make better decisions. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Business Analyst. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in business analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Market Researcher

Market Researchers use data to understand consumer behavior and trends. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Market Researcher. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in market research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Statistician

Statisticians use data to analyze trends and make predictions. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Statistician. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in statistics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use data to improve the efficiency of business operations. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Operations Research Analyst. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in operations research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Database Administrator. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in database administration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Data Engineer

Data Engineers build and maintain the infrastructure that stores and processes data. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Data Engineer. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in data engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Software Engineer. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in software engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Computer Scientist

Computer Scientists research and develop new computing technologies. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Computer Scientist. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in computer science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Scientist

Information Systems Manager

Information Systems Managers plan and implement information systems for organizations. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Information Systems Manager. This course may also be helpful for professionals who want to pivot into a career in information systems management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Systems Manager

Privacy Analyst

Privacy Analysts develop and implement policies and procedures for protecting the privacy of data. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Privacy Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Privacy Analyst

Chief Data Officer

Chief Data Officers are responsible for overseeing the use of data within an organization. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Chief Data Officer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Data Officer

Data Governance Specialist

Data Governance Specialists develop and implement policies and procedures for managing data within an organization. This course, Data Management and Visualization, can help you build a foundation in data management and visualization. These are both essential skills for any Data Governance Specialist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Governance Specialist

Reading list

We've selected 28 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Data Management and Visualization.

The Elements of Statistical Learning

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More advanced treatment of statistical learning. It covers topics such as regularization, boosting, and bagging.

The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining,...

Hardcover

$$$

The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining,...

Hardcover

$$$

The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining,...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Reinforcement Learning, second edition

Save

Comprehensive overview of reinforcement learning. It covers topics such as Markov decision processes, dynamic programming, and deep reinforcement learning.

Reinforcement Learning, second edition: An...

Hardcover

$$$

Reinforcement Learning, second edition: An...

Kindle Edition

$$$