Social Sciences

EPW exploratory data analysis

Using R Software and Internet Resources

for Development Research

(December 6 to 11, 2010 at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai)

Economic & Political Weekly and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences are jointly organising a week-long workshop on Exploratory Data Analysis for Development Research during the week 6 to 11 December 2010 at the TISS campus in Mumbai. This workshop is part of a University Grants Commission project to promote the social sciences in India. The objective of the workshop is to provide practical guidance to researchers on the basic techniques of data analysis, on how to use the open source statistical software, "R", for practising these techniques, and on how to utilise open resources available on the internet. The workshop is a short and intensive training programme meant for economic and social researchers on the use of exploratory data analysis (EDA) as a research tool for the analysis of quantitative data using R and internet resources. R is a powerful software that is specifically designed for data exploration and it is free (downloadable from the internet). It is being increasingly used by academicians as well as those in business/commerce.

The resource persons will be experienced faculty from the National Institute of Public Finance, New Delhi, and the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.

Who May Benefit

Researchers who need to make sense of quantitative data and those who work with primary survey data or published secondary data.

Who Can Apply

The workshop will be open to teachers/researchers in universities and colleges under the age of 40 and any PhD scholar in a university/college working in the field of social sciences.

Requirements

Participants should have done a course in basic/introductory statistics during their undergraduate/postgraduate degrees. They are expected to be familiar with elementary mathematics and with the basic statistical theory and applications as normally covered in a first level course in statistics for social scientists/economists. In addition, the participants must be conversant with at least a spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel and the use of standard browsers for internet use. There will be a maximum of 20 participants in the workshop

Organization of the Workshop

The workshop will be six days of skill-intensive training. It will consist of short lectures, computer-based training in R, and, above all, extensive hands-on practice with data sets and internet resources. Lectures will aim to explain the basic philosophy, theory and techniques of EDA. The emphasis will be on underlying principles and applicability. The main aim is to acquaint participants with a new paradigm of data analysis through some of its most effective techniques. The computer training aims to familiarize participants with the use of R as well as use of the internet for research. Each computer session will begin with guided exercise, followed by a short assignment.

Travel and Accommodation

Travel costs of participants selected for the course will be covered as per UGC-TISS regulations. Participants will also be provided boarding and lodging on TISS campus during the duration of the course.

Application Process

Visit the EPW web site (http://epw.in or http://beta.epw.in/home/) for the application form.

Please send completed application forms preferably by email to: [email protected]

Last Date for Submission of Forms: October 31

Selection of Participants: November 10

Postal Address: Saritha C.T, Assistant Professor, Room No.1, Director's Office, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai-88, (Phone: 022-25525193).

(If sending application by post, please write "Application for TISS-EPW Workshop on Exploratory Data Analysis" on the envelope.)

(Email and postal address are only for communication regarding the Workshop on Exploratory Data Analysis. Please do not send other correspondence to this address.)

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Social Sciences