Data Analysis Support Hub (DASH)

 

Data Analysis Support Hub (DASH)

DASH SERVICES

Looking for help with statistical software and data analysis?

Quantitative Data Analysis Support 

We can assist with data analysis and software applications such as Excel, Power BI, SPSS, and many other statistical software. We can support across disciplines, whether you’re taking a course in statistics or working on a research project with queries about data analytics and software programming. Please note that we will not be able to offer any statistical assistance for STATA at the current moment. 

Some examples of what we can assist with: creating charts, graphs, scatter plots etc., figuring out what statistical tests to run, assistant with research methodology.  

Qualitative Data Analysis Support 

We can advise on various open-source software such as Taguette, QualCoder, Voyant, Gephi and others. Currently we don’t offer licenses to proprietary QDA software such as NVIVO or MaxQDA; however, we can talk through if you’re having any questions related to methodology. 

Examples of questions we can help with: organizing your data to use with QDA software, developing code schemes, choosing a qualitative analysis theoretical framework. 

Please note that all of our research consultations are free and conducted over Zoom. They are open to McMaster Students, Faculty, Staff and Community Organizations.

Schedule an Appointment 

 

Dash Resources

DASH Resources

This page lists several resources on a variety of topics such as SAS, SPSS, Excel, R that, at the very least, will get you started on these topics. For any specific questions on these topics, please make an appointment with the DASH consultant. 

ArcGIS

ArcGIS at McMaster University Libraries

More information on the tools, resources, and support available to the McMaster community of students, staff, and faculty.

The guide includes a software request form for McMaster ArcGIS accounts.

Higher Education Resources

Self-serve tutorials and resources for Esri software products, such as ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and more.

Get started with Story Maps

Learn to tell stories through interactive maps and multimedia, using ArcGIS Online and Story Maps. 

 

Learn ArcGIS Tutorial Gallery

Videos, tutorials, and series teaching ArcGIS products to beginner, intermediate, and advanced users. 

All ArcGIS products are covered, broken down into level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), topic (health, natural resources, water, etc.), capability (mapping, analysis, remote sensing, etc.), and software product.

Available to those with public, organizational, or no ArcGIS account.

 

Excel

Short videos covering basic to advanced functionalities of Excel 

Active McMaster students, faculty, and staff have free, unlimited access to video tutorials related to business, media, and technology through LinkedIn Learning, a self-service training site.

Please login to the LinkedIn Learning site before using the following links.

GIS

GIS Services

McMaster University Libraries provides support and resources for a variety of GIS and geospatial data needs. 

Visit the GIS Services page for information and links to geospatial data, GIS software, and support.

Contact GIS Services for help or use the appointment booking form available on the above website.

 

Python Programming

Lessons available through the Software Carpentry website are freely available under a Creative Commons - Attribution License.

Two lessons are available for Python:

Constellate Notebooks is a repository containing Jupyter notebooks and tutorials, freely available under a Creative Commons CC BY License.

Example notebooks include Python Basics, Python Intermediate, Pandas Basics, Pandas Intermediate, Teaching Data Literacy, and more.

 

 

 

QGIS

A Gentle Introduction to GIS

An introduction to GIS using the QGIS software.

Includes information on fundamental GIS concepts, data models, coordinate systems, mapping, and analysis.

 

Introduction to GIS (QGIS)

This beginner workshop introduces the core concepts of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial data. Through the use of the GIS software program, QGIS, hands-on exercises will incorporate these concepts in the creation of a map.

QGIS Training Manual

Self-serve comprehensive series of tutorials covering aspects of the QGIS platform.

Sample exercise data is included.

R Programming

SAS

SPSS

Active McMaster students, faculty, and staff have free, unlimited access to video tutorials related to business, media, and technology through LinkedIn Learning, a self-service training site.

Please login to the LinkedIn Learning site before using the following links.

STATA

Active McMaster students, faculty, and staff have free, unlimited access to video tutorials related to business, media, and technology through LinkedIn Learning, a self-service training site.

Please login to the LinkedIn Learning site before using the following links.

DASH GitHub Repository

Repository of programming code related to Data Analysis.

  • Intro to Python Programming and Scientific Libraries

    Welcome to this Python tutorial! Whether you're new to programming or looking to enhance your skills, this tutorial will give you a solid grounding in Python and its powerful scientific libraries. It starts with an overview of Python, covering its features and getting you set up to start coding. You’ll work through a simple example to grasp the basics, and then delve into functions and core concepts essential for effective programming. As you progress, you’ll explore Python's scientific capabilities. This tutorial will introduce key libraries like NumPy for numerical operations, Matplotlib for creating visualizations, SciPy for advanced computations, and Pandas for data manipulation. By the end of this tutorial, you'll be well-equipped to leverage Python for a variety of applications, from basic programming to complex data analysis.

Workshops

Past Workshops

Recordings of the past DASH workshops.

1. Intro to LaTeX

Synchronous Workshop 
Watch a recording of the workshop

Instructor: Katie Harding, with assistance from John Fink

This workshop will introduce you to LaTeX, a typesetting system commonly used in STEM disciplines to create high-quality documents and easily write mathematical equations. We will discuss tools for writing in LaTeX, the structural elements of LaTeX, text formatting, and commands for writing mathematical equations. You will learn the commands to create your first LaTeX document. This session will be recorded and made available openly.

2. Version Control with Git

Presented in collaboration with DMDS
Synchronous Workshop
Watch a recording of the workshop

Instructor: John Fink

This workshop will give you a solid introduction to Git. Git is software originally designed to help manage vast, decentralized software projects with hundreds of authors, but it works just as well with many things that aren’t software, like data and text. Imagine having a complete archive of your work at every stage in its development! This workshop assumes no prior experience. This session will be recorded and made available openly.

3. Intro to R

Synchronous Workshop
Watch a recording of the workshop

Instructor: Vivek Jadon

This beginner-level workshop will focus on basic concepts of R programming using R Studio. Various Data Types and Data Structures will be discussed as well as basic data manipulation. No prior knowledge of R programming is required for this workshop. This workshop consists of a synchronous workshop session, which will be recorded and shared publicly afterward.

4. Intro to Python

Synchronous Workshop
Watch a recording of the workshop

Instructor: Vivek Jadon

This beginner-level workshop will introduce you to the basic concepts of the world’s most popular Python programming language. You’ll learn to store data in Python data types and variables, as well as learn how to perform operations on numbers and strings. Python IDE Anaconda will be briefly discussed. No prior knowledge of Python is required. This session will be recorded and made available openly.

5. Intro to SPSS

Synchronous Workshop
Watch a recording of the workshop

Instructor: Vivek Jadon

This beginner-level workshop will introduce you to the basics of SPSS statistical software, how it works, and some basic descriptive statistics and statistical procedures. No prior knowledge of SPSS is required. This session will be recorded and made available openly.

Contact DASH

Contact DASH

Feel free to email us directly at libdash@mcmaster.ca

You can also fill out this form and we will get back to you at our earliest convenience.

Consultations are available. Book an appointment with one of our DASH students.