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A Data Carpentry Workshop

North-West University

March, 23 - Completed
April 6, 2017

8:15 am - 16:00 pm

Instructors: Juan Steyn, Martin Dreyer, Bianca Peterson

Helpers: Caroline Ajilogba, Bennett Kankuzi

General Information

Data Carpentry workshops are for any researcher who has data they want to analyze, and no prior computational experience is required. This hands-on workshop teaches basic concepts, skills and tools for working more effectively with data.

We will cover Data organization in spreadsheets and OpenRefine, Data organization in in OpenRefine, Data analysis and visualization in R and Data analysis and visualization in R. Participants should bring their laptops and plan to participate actively. By the end of the workshop learners should be able to more effectively manage and analyze data and be able to apply the tools and approaches directly to their ongoing research.

Who: The course is aimed at graduate students and other researchers.

Where: Old Science Building A4 -1036. Mafikeng Campus, Albert Luthuli and University Drive, Mmabatho, Mahikeng, 2790, South Africa. Get directions with OpenStreetMap or Google Maps.

Requirements: Participants must bring a laptop with a Mac, Linux, or Windows operating sytem (not a tablet, Chromebook, etc.) that they have administrative privileges on. They should have a few specific software packages installed (listed below). They are also required to abide by Data Carpentry's Code of Conduct.

Contact: Please mail juan.steyn@nwu.ac.za for more information and if you have any trouble registering for the workshop.

Workshop registration

Attendance of Day 1 is NOT a prerequisite for attending Day 2 of the workshop.

Please register for the workshop at: https://goo.gl/forms/uPajJVfBoHNDaZfx2 by 4 April 2017

Preliminary Schedule

Surveys

Please be sure to complete these surveys before and after the workshop.

Pre-workshop Survey

Post-workshop Survey

Day 1 - Completed

23 March 2017

Morning Data organization in spreadsheets and OpenRefine
Afternoon Data organization in in OpenRefine

Attendance of Day 1 is NOT a prerequisite for attending Day 2 of the workshop.


Day 2

6 April 2017

Morning Data analysis and visualization in R
Afternoon Data analysis and visualization in R

Etherpad: http://pad.software-carpentry.org/nwu-mafikeng-2017-03-23.
We will use this Etherpad for chatting, taking notes, and sharing URLs and bits of code.

Detail Programme

Day 1 - 23 March 2017 - Completed

08:15 Install and setup time
09:00 Introduction to e-Research
09:30 Part 1: Using spreadsheet programs for scientific data
10:30 Break
10:45 Part 2: Using spreadsheet programs for scientific data and Introduction to OpenRefine
12:00 Break
13:00 OpenRefine for Cleaning Data
14:30 Break
14:45 Mozilla Study Group and Intro to R
16:00 Wrap-up and next workshop date

Day 2 - 6 April 2017

08:30 Install and setup time
09:00 Introduction to R
10:30 Coffee and Tea Break
10:45 Part 1: Data Analysis and Visualization in R
12:00 Break - No lunch provided
13:00 Part 2: Data Analysis and Visualization in R
14:30 Coffee and Tea Break
14:45 Part 3: Data Analysis and Visualization in R
15:30 Wrap-up

Syllabus

Using spreadsheet programs for scientific data

  • Formatting data & problems
  • Dates as data
  • Quality control
  • Exporting data
  • Data format caveats
  • Cleaning data with OpenRefine

Spreadsheet Program

For this workshop you will need a spreadsheet program. Many people already have Microsoft Excel installed, and if you do, you're set!

If you need a spreadsheet program, there are a few other options, like OpenOffice and LibreOffice. Install instructions for LibreOffice, which is free and open source, are here.

  1. Download the Installer
    Install LibreOffice by going to the installation page. The version for Windows should automatically be selected. Click on the button below "Main Installer" Download Version x.y.z. You will go to a page that asks about a donation, but you don't need to make one. Your download should begin automatically.
  2. Install LibreOffice
    Once the installer is downloaded, double click on it and it should install.
  3. To use LibreOffice, double click on the icon and it will open.

OpenRefine

OpenRefine (previously Google Refine) is a tool for data cleaning that runs through a web browser, and any browser - Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Explorer - should work fine. You will need to download OpenRefine and install it, and when you open it, it will run through the browser, but you don't need an internet connection, and the data will all be stored on your computer.

Windows

  1. Go to the OpenRefine download page
  2. Click on Windows kit to download the install file
  3. To use it, unzip, and double-click on openrefine.exe (if you're having issues with openrefine.exe try refine.bat instead)
  4. OpenRefine will then open in your web browser.
  5. If it doesn't open automatically, open a web broswer after you've started the program and go to the URL http://localhost:3333 and you should see OpenRefine.

Mac

  1. Go to the OpenRefine download page
  2. Click on Mac kit to download the install file
  3. To use it, unzip, drag the openrefine icon to the Applications folder, and then double click on the icon.
  4. OpenRefine will then open in your web browser.
  5. If it doesn't open automatically, open a web broswer after you've started the program and go to the URL http://localhost:3333 and you should see OpenRefine.

Linux

  1. Go to the OpenRefine download page
  2. Click on Linux kit to download the install file
  3. To use it, unzip, then type ./refine in a terminal to start
  4. OpenRefine will then open in your web browser.
  5. If it doesn't open automatically, open a web broswer after you've started the program and go to the URL http://localhost:3333 and you should see OpenRefine.

OpenRefine may require you to install Java, please follow the instructions it provides to do so.

Programming in R

  • Working with vectors and data frames
  • Reading and plotting data
  • Creating and using functions
  • Loops and conditionals
  • Using R from the command line
  • Reference...

Setup

To participate in a Data Carpentry workshop, you will need working copies of the described software. Please make sure to install everything (or at least to download the installers) before the start of your workshop. Participants should bring and use their own laptops to insure the proper setup of tools for an efficient workflow once you leave the workshop.

Please follow these Setup Instructions.

We maintain a list of common issues that occur during installation as a reference for instructors that may be useful on the Configuration Problems and Solutions wiki page.

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