Syllabus, valid from 2021-02-15

Title

Exploratory Data Analysis, Visualization and Storytelling

Swedish title

Sonderande dataanalys, visualisering och berättande

Course code

MA661E

Credits

7.5 credits

Grading scale

UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)

Language of instruction

English

Decision-making body

Faculty of Technology and Society

Syllabus approval date

2019-03-25

Syllabus valid from

2021-02-15

Level

Advanced level

Entry requirements

Bachelor of Science in computer science or related subjects.
At least 15 credits in programming.
At least 7.5 credits in mathematics.
Knowledge equivalent to English 6 at Swedish upper secondary level.

Main field

No main field.

Progression level

A1N

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

The course is part of the programme Computer Science: Applied Data Science, master’s programme, and can be included in the master's degree in computer science (120 credits).

Course objectives

The course aims to enable the student to critically process the collected data using graphic visualisation and various analytical methods, as well as communicate results from the collected data in an easily understandable way.

Course contents

The course contains the following elements:

organisation of data
dimensionality reduction
hidden patterns and clusters
plotting techniques and mapping for visualisation of distributions, for relationships between variables, visualisation of categorical variables.
data-based storytelling: influence, technique and ethics.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

For a pass grade the student shall be able to:

explain analytical methods for managing large quantities of data
describe plot techniques for visualisation
explain basic techniques for data-based storytelling
identify and clarify ethical principles for communicating digital information in society.

Competence and abilities

For a pass grade the student shall be able to:

demonstrate an open approach to collected data to understand its natural content
find connections in data by applying and experimenting with different techniques
verbally and in writing describe and discuss information and knowledge that data analysis provides, adapted for different kinds of stakeholders

Evaluation abilities and approach

For a pass grade the student shall be able to:

identify his or her own need for further knowledge and to take responsibility for his or her own development of knowledge
communicate with the surrounding community effectively and in an easily understandable way with storytelling as a tool

Learning activities

Lectures, computer laboratories, seminars

Assessment

The course is examined through verbal and written examination tasks, including active participation in seminars: The course is examined by:

Written assignments (3.5 credits, UA)
Oral presentation at seminars (2.0 credits, UG)
Laboratory work (2.0 credits, UG)

An A-E pass requires that all parts have been completed and passed. The final grade is based on written assignments.

Course literature and other study material

Martinez, W &, Martines, A: Exploratory Data Analysis with MATLAB, Chapman & Hall 2005.
Peng, Roger D. Exploratory Data Analysis with R, 2015
Reiche, N al at, Data-driven storytelling, CRC Press, 2018.
Tukey, J W. Exploratory Data analysis, Addison-Wesley 1977

Course evaluation

The University provides students who are taking or have completed a course with the opportunity to share their experiences of and opinions about the course in the form of a course evaluation that is arranged by the University. The University compiles the course evaluations and notifies the results and any decisions regarding actions brought about by the course evaluations. The results shall be kept available for the students. (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

When a course is no longer given, or the contents have been radically changed, the student has the right to re-take the examination, which will be given twice during a one year period, according to the syllabus which was valid at the time of registration.

Additional information

The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.