Data skills are in high demand by employers. Why? Because data are transforming society all around us – from science and engineering to medicine, finance, and business.
Data Visualization
The ability to teach others about your research findings is job skill sought by employers within and beyond the academy.
Yet, too often, presenters rely on complex charts and graphs that are difficult for an audience to see, much less comprehend.
Today, researchers across disciplines can employ a variety of visualization strategies to teach others about their findings. For example, infographics can be inserted into presentations and posters, while interactive charts can be deployed on sites.
Data visualization and data storytelling are skills that students in the sciences, arts and humanities can hone. The skills can increase a presenter’s ability to connect with scholarly and lay (public) audiences.
Here are some sites to illustrate these concepts across disciplines:
Forbes Magazine
Data Storytelling: The Essential Data Science Skill Everyone Needs
US Census
UDACITY
15 Data Visualizations that will Blow Your Mind
WebdesignerDepot
50 Great Examples of Data Visualization
Social Science Statistics Center
The Social Science Statistics Center at Mizzou provides statistical consulting and expertise to graduate students and posdocs across the MU campus. To request assistance, fill out the SSSC request form.
The SSSC also offers walk-in help for SAS and SPSS questions during the semester, when classes are in session.
The MU Division of IT
IT offers year-round training courses on various hardware and software to graduate students and postdocs. A core group of classes in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and web design are scheduled regularly throughout the year. Most classes are hands-on with computers, software, online manuals, and experienced instructors provided. Related to your research needs:
SAS provides tools essential for mastering the four data-driven tasks common to virtually any application: data access, management, analysis and presentation. SAS training courses, including SAS Certification, are free for faculty, staff, and students.
IBM SPSS is a software product line for the analytical process: planning, data collection, data access and management, analysis, reporting, and deployment. IBM SPSS training courses are free for faculty, staff, and students.
Qualtrics is a survey software that is on a safe server so that data remain protected. MU IT offers a webinar that serves as an introduction to Qualtrics.
Excel (part of the Microsoft Office Suite) can be used to organize, format, and calculate data with formulas using a spreadsheet system. Graphs and charts can be easily created to insert in to theses, dissertations, and journal manuscripts.
See the MU IT Training site for SAS, SPSS, Qualtrics, and Excel course information and enrollment.