Data Analysis
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Aim of the course is to gain a series of basic competences for retrieving, treating, analysing and presenting qualitative and quantitative information. More in detail, students will learn how to perform queries in digital catalogues, as well as in online datahubs with political, economic and juridical data, and how to download the relevant information in different formats. Furthermore, they will further learn how to use the most common electronic spreadsheets to catalogue, analyse and present those data.
Expected learning outcomes
After taking this course students should be familiar with the Unimi electronic databases, and will be able to download research articles and access datasets. They will know how to pose a (research) question and download relevant data published by international organization and institutes such as IMF, WB, OECD, WGI, Eurostat, Eurobarometer, etc. Finally, they will be able to describe and communicate findings of simple descriptive analyses using graphs and tables produced with Microsoft Excel.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
Spreadsheets are basic but resourceful tools used in many different industries as well as in academia for data gathering and analysis. This short course will provide tools and the skills for retrieving, analysing and visualizing relevant data and information. After taking this course you will be ready to continue with more advanced data analysis courses.
Students will review the major online sources for political, economic and juridical data and information. Afterwards the lab will concentrate itself on the practical use of spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel to organize efficiently data and produce descriptive analyses and graphs. At the end of the course students should be able to: pose a question and look for relevant data; collect data; to download, manage, and explore data; to communicate findings using graphs and tables.
Topics:
1) Introduction to data analysis with Excel
2) Descriptive statistics
3) Finding, importing and transforming data
4) Creating summary tables
5) Creating charts
6) Bivariate analysis for categorical variables
i. Chi-squared test of independence
7) Bivariate analysis for continuous variables
i. Correlation
ii. Regression
8) Bivariate analysis for mixed variables
i. T-test for difference in means
9) How to present your work
Students will review the major online sources for political, economic and juridical data and information. Afterwards the lab will concentrate itself on the practical use of spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel to organize efficiently data and produce descriptive analyses and graphs. At the end of the course students should be able to: pose a question and look for relevant data; collect data; to download, manage, and explore data; to communicate findings using graphs and tables.
Topics:
1) Introduction to data analysis with Excel
2) Descriptive statistics
3) Finding, importing and transforming data
4) Creating summary tables
5) Creating charts
6) Bivariate analysis for categorical variables
i. Chi-squared test of independence
7) Bivariate analysis for continuous variables
i. Correlation
ii. Regression
8) Bivariate analysis for mixed variables
i. T-test for difference in means
9) How to present your work
Prerequisites for admission
There are no preliminary requirements different from those requested for the registration to the bachelor's degree.
Teaching methods
Lectures are held in the classroom and streamed through Microsoft Teams based on weekly slides and handouts. Laboratories will be provided as asynchronous video lessons shared through Ariel. Students will then have the opportunity to meet the course tutor online or in presence in small groups. Course material (slides, labs, and data) and information will be made available on Ariel at the following address: https://fviscontida.ariel.ctu.unimi.it .
Teaching Resources
Slides, handouts and video-tutorial provided by the instructor on Ariel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final assessment relies on a computer-based exam lasting about 50 minutes. To pass the exam students will have to answer questions on statistics and Microsoft Excel, and will have to be able to retrieve data and perform practical exercises using Microsoft Excel. The final grade will be passed or not passed.
INF/01 - INFORMATICS - University credits: 3
Basic computer skills: 20 hours
Professor:
Visconti Francesco
Professor(s)