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This guide © 2024 by UCL - Library Skills is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 
Tableau visualisation by Marc Reid on datavis.blog
Data often aren’t useful in and of themselves, but gain utility if meaning and value can be extracted from them – it’s what’s done with data that’s important. Processes of inspecting, cleaning, transforming and modelling data are key to discovering useful information and drawing conclusions.
Visuals have long been used to summarise and describe data through statistical charts and graphs, diagrams, spatialisations, maps and animations. These visual methods can effectively reveal and communicate the structure, pattern and trends of variables and their interconnections. If a picture tells a thousand words, it’s no surprise then that visualisation has proven a popular way for making sense of data and onward communication.
Combining content from Sage books, journals, case studies, datasets and references works to help users explore methods concepts when designing research projects, conduct research, and write up findings. Access to all areas including Datasets and Doing Research Online. Some video contents is available - refine by 'Available to me'. Foundations content is now included. Accessibility statement for SAGE Research Methods.
Tableau visualisation by Marc Reid on datavis.blog
Data often aren’t useful in and of themselves, but gain utility if meaning and value can be extracted from them – it’s what’s done with data that’s important. Processes of inspecting, cleaning, transforming and modelling data are key to discovering useful information and drawing conclusions.
Visuals have long been used to summarise and describe data through statistical charts and graphs, diagrams, spatialisations, maps and animations. These visual methods can effectively reveal and communicate the structure, pattern and trends of variables and their interconnections. If a picture tells a thousand words, it’s no surprise then that visualisation has proven a popular way for making sense of data and onward communication.
ISD Digital Skills Development develops the digital skills of both staff and students to meet academic, professional and personal needs. They offer face-to-face training, such as on Office 365, programming and desktop applications, online learning opportunities and drop-ins – weekly online sessions offering help with individual training needs.
Courses are available in quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools, including R with Rstudio, SPSS, Stata, Matlab and Nvivo. Most sessions are delivered via a remote classroom unless indicated (as 'campus based'). The Software for success sessions provide a brief overview of the options available and are a good starting point if you aren't sure what tool you need. A comprehensive set of Excel courses is covered under the Mastering Excel theme. The Centre for Applied Statistics Courses (CASC) provides paid short courses in research methods and statistical analyses for anyone wanting to interpret or undertake their own research.
Advanced Research Computing Centre (ARC) also provides research computing platforms for staff and students, which supports research at UCL, through provision of specialist platforms for high performance and high throughput computing. They support research software development tools to enable researchers to follow best practices when developing research software, including version control and automated testing, as well as various research IT applications to supporting research management and administration from planning through to publication.
ARC provides expertise in creating software for academic research and collaborate with researchers across UCL on projects. Get in touch with the Research Software Development team to discuss your project.
Departmental experts within your department may be willing to assist you and there are also paid UCL Short Courses (discounts available).
The FT's Data Visualisation poster provides inspiration for the kinds of charts you could use depending on the relationship you wish to highlight. Furthermore, the Data Visualization Society is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organisation that aims to celebrate, nurture and advance the field of data visualisation. Free membership includes: DVS Slack Workspace Access, newsletter subscription, participation in data viz challenges and access to the DVS job board.
Explore the SAGE Methods Map to learn more about research terms and find useful content.
