After data collection and before data analysis lies the all-important step of data cleaning. This is an integral, yet time-consuming part of any data-focused research project, and it is often delegated to research assistants (RAs). Unfortunately, data cleaning is not typically taught formally in the statistics courses our RAs have taken. As a result, many RAs don’t understand how to approach data cleaning and can miss critical steps and considerations, resulting in more work and more headaches later in the project.
Research faculty (both junior and senior) are invited to this workshop on Wednesday, March 2nd, from 12 – 1p.m. on training RAs to clean data. The workshop will provide a general framework for data cleaning, introducing key steps in the data cleaning process and the sequence these steps should be taken. And the workshop will provide guidance for training and mentoring RAs to clean data in ways that are both transparent and reproducible.
This workshop will be led by Bianca Manago, assistant professor of sociology. Professor Manago’s research examines inequality. She also studies statistical and methodological approaches to social science research.
The session will be held on Zoom, and is open to faculty, staff, and students. Register here.