Twitter Report Step 3

Today, we will take the steps required to clean up and create some charts using our tweet analysis data. These will allow us to create visuals that we can use in our reports. We will also look at our next feeder assignment.

The main task we are in the middle of is populating the spreadsheet with categories and codes that can be used for analysis. As you work you may want to

• create a column or take notes where you can continue to brainstorm and let the data generate ideas.
• add new columns as needed when aspect of the conversation reveal items to keep track of.
• leave cells blank when not relevant or uncertain.
• make decisions about the codes you are using and get a feel for how respond objectively to tweets.

This video covers the decision making aspects of the process:

Once you have entered analysis for all of your ~100 rows and populated your spreadsheet, you can move on the the next steps:

First, standardize all of the entries in your spreadsheet: 

• Check that if you have entered terms that are synonyms, you combine them into a single term; venting, whining, and complaining, can all be combined using "complaining."
• Check that all of the text in your codes is the same in terms of spelling and case; colourful, colorful, Colorful--should all be combined using "Colorful"
• Check to see if any items that you have listed no longer rise to the level or importance needed to be included; if an item appears only once or twice after all of the coding, it may be able to be combined with some other term.
• Look through the items and clean up entries to prepare to make visuals.

Next, create charts for your data. There are two kinds: single column charts and pivot table charts.

Single column charts. These give you a basic sense of the proportions of the codes that you have developed and are good for quick demonstrations and checking the status of your data.

• Select a column in your spreadsheet that seems to be interesting in terms of your analysis.
• From the Insert menu, select Chart
• Check that the items in the chart are correct; if anything is amiss--e.g., typos--delete the chart, go back to the entries in the spreadsheet and continue to clean up, and then repeat the process of inserting the chart.
• When the Chart is inserted and in good shape, use the Chart Settings option on the right to change the title, edit the X or Y axis titles, add Data Labels, and customize other aspects of the chart.
• When all is as you wish, use the more options on the chart--three dots in the top right--to select Download as. . . ., and then download the chart as a png image, saving it to your computer.
• Repeat this process for other categories in your spreadsheet until you have some basic visuals from your analysis saved on your computer.

Pivot table charts. These allow you to cross-reference different columns in your spreadsheets and explore possible conclusions.

• Select all of the columns you want to consider in your spreadsheet. You can use the columns you have developed as well as the ones that were added by the TAGS program (e.g., number of followers).
• From the Data menu choose Pivot table, and then New sheet; this will create a tab that will allow you to generate a unique table from your different columns.
• On the right of the spreadsheet use the tools to populate your table. For the Rows item, selection the Add button, and then choose the column from your spreadsheet that you want; next from the Filter item, select Add and choose the same entry for the column you just picked. When the filter is added, use the pulldown menu to remove any blanks empty spaces, etc.
• Next, for the Column item, select Add, and then choose a different column in your spreadsheet. Add a filter for this item as well to eliminate blanks and clean up things.
• Next, from the Values item, select Add and choose the entry that you have selected for your column above.
• This will create a table that has data for the two categories
• Finally, make charts from the data in your pivot table. Select the main entries (leaving the totals out), and then from the Insert menu choose Chart. As you create charts, you can use some of the Chart editing features on the right to experiment with different visuals and fine tune aspects of your charts.

Once you have made charts from your analysis data, collect all of these files on your laptop. 

Watch this video for insights into cleaning your data and to get the instructions for making the pivot tables:

Finally, we will complete the steps needed for the submission of our spreadsheet with our categories and coding and of our visuals. For that, follow these steps:

• Make sure that your spreadsheet is available to be viewed by the public on the web.
• Copy the address of the spreadsheet.
• Submit it.

Once you have the analysis submitted, we will turn to preparing a bibliography of secondary sources related to our topics. Before getting started, review the bibliography assignment. Next, follow these steps:

• First, go to the UNC Library web site and then select the articles + link. Follow these steps to conduct searches and collect potential articles:
• Start with keyword searching. Use strategies to find the best results--try synonyms, recall terms from your twitter research, and experiment with combining terms and using different approaches to find good results.
• When you load a page of promising results, use the Full Text Online link on the left to limit items to those with online articles. 
• Also, experiment with selecting the Journal Article, Newspaper Article, etc. links as well.
• Search, explore results, and identify at least five valuable sources for the project.
• Once you identify a valuable source, download a copy of the the item to your computer, and then look for citation tools on the page with the source. If available, use the citation tools to create a citation in APA format.
• Copy your citation information into a word processor document. Also examine the source that you have downloaded, and then write two or three sentences capturing the key information in the source and any ways it might be useful for your report.
• Repeat this process until you have source information and an annotation for at least five items. (Note that at least two of the items must be from journal articles.)

Here are a couple of samples to help you get a sense of how these annotated biliographies work:

When you have completed your annotated bibliography, submit it.

Finally, to complete today's task please conduct the UNC library's training module on plagiarism. It will take about twenty-five minutes. When you have completed the tutorial, there will be a quiz. Take the quiz. When you have finished the quiz, take a screenshot of the proof of completion and send it to me via e-mail.