Check out the resources below to help you develop and sharpen your data analysis skills for both quantitative and qualitative data.
Practice Datasets
An Introduction to Data Analysis by
Covering the general process of data analysis to finding, collecting, organizing, and presenting data, this book offers a complete introduction to the fundamentals of data analysis.
Using real-world case studies as illustrations, it helps readers understand theories behind and develop techniques for conducting quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods data analysis.
Basic Principles:
Better Data Visualizations by
This book details essential strategies to create more effective data visualizations. Jonathan Schwabish walks readers through the steps of creating better graphs and how to move beyond simple line, bar, and pie charts.
Storytelling with Data by
Don't simply show your data--tell a story with it! Storytelling with Data teaches you the fundamentals of data visualization and how to communicate effectively with data. You'll discover the power of storytelling and the way to make data a pivotal point in your story. The lessons in this illuminative text are grounded in theory, but made accessible through numerous real-world examples--ready for immediate application to your next graph or presentation. Storytelling is not an inherent skill, especially when it comes to data visualization, and the tools at our disposal don't make it any easier. This book demonstrates how to go beyond conventional tools to reach the root of your data, and how to use your data to create an engaging, informative, compelling story. Specifically, you'll learn how to: Understand the importance of context and audience Determine the appropriate type of graph for your situation Recognize and eliminate the clutter clouding your information Direct your audience's attention to the most important parts of your data Think like a designer and utilize concepts of design in data visualization Leverage the power of storytelling to help your message resonate with your audience Together, the lessons in this book will help you turn your data into high impact visual stories that stick with your audience. Rid your world of ineffective graphs, one exploding 3D pie chart at a time. There is a story in your data--Storytelling with Data will give you the skills and power to tell it!
Advanced training is available online from a variety of sources:
Check out the Software Training Lab (Excel) and Geospatial Services and Training (Arc GIS) in the library for workshops and help using software.
LinkedIn Learning: BYU provides free access to this large collection of training materials. Just sign in with your BYU email.
National Student Data Corps: Free videos and guided learning to build programing and data analysis skills.
Guides:
BYU provides remote access to a variety of software for data analysis and visualization (including those listed below). Login to Cloud Apps with your BYU netID and password to use these and other programs on your personal device wherever you are:
Advanced Excel Success by
Explore advanced skills in Excel and gain an amazing array of tricks and tools to increase your productivity. This book discusses new techniques such as power functions, chart tricks, and many more to master Excel. Advanced Excel Success starts with a few useful data tools in Excel followed by advanced formulas that will help you increase productivity.
Google Data Studio for Beginners by
Release your locked-up data and turn it into beautiful, actionable, and shareable reports that can be consumed by experts and novices alike.
Practical Python Data Visualization by
Quickly start programming with Python 3 for data visualization with this step-by-step, detailed guide.
R Data Analysis Cookbook by
Find meaningful insights from your data and generate dynamic reports. A practical guide to help you put your data analysis skills in R to practical use.
Stata: A Really Short Introduction by
Stata is one of the most popular statistical software in the world and suited for all kinds of users, from absolute beginners to experienced veterans. This book offers a clear and concise introduction to the usage and the workflow of Stata. Included topics are importing and managing datasets, cleaning and preparing data, creating and manipulating variables, producing descriptive statistics and meaningful graphs as well as central quantitative methods, like linear (OLS) and binary logistic regressions and matching.