Research Guides: Library Workshop Descriptions: Excel for Research

Spreadsheets for Research

Click on the tabs above to find out more about the three workshops in the Excel for Research sequence.

1. Formatting and Data Wrangling - The first workshop introduces you to tricks like using absolute and relative cell references to more easily modify data, and discusses best practices in spreadsheet management.

2. Quality Control - The second workshop discusses the complexity of dates in spreadsheet programs, tricks for managing dates, and how to export your data to csv for analysis in statistical software.

3. Data Visualization - The final workshop introduces data visualization best practices and how to build basic charts and graphs in Excel.

You can attend any workshop in the series without attending all of them; however, if you skip ahead in the series we recommend reviewing the pre-requisites (listed under each tab) to make sure you are prepared. If you would like to schedule a version of this sequence for your lab, student group, or as part of a class, reach out to us at DataServices@uoregon.edu.

If no upcoming events are listed for this class sequence below, you can search for related classes on our workshop schedule page.

Excel for Research: Formatting and Data Wrangling

Software:	Although this workshop has Excel in the title, all lessons apply equally to Excel and Google Sheets.
Duration:	60 min
Room description:	Varies. Often held in Knight Library 267b or the Knight Library DREAM Lab workshop space
Prerequisites:	Experience entering data into Excel or Google Sheets Comfortable adding and copying data in Excel or Google Sheets. If you are unsure or want to review before the class, see the Add and Fill portions of this template/worksheet.
Skills Taught / Learning Outcomes:	Good data entry practices Tips and tricks for formatting data tables in Excel How to avoid common formatting mistakes in Excel
Class Materials:	This workshop is based on the first half of this Tidy Data course material, with additional exercises at http://bit.ly/CellReferences and at the bottom of this page.
Related Classes:	Excel for Research: Spreadsheet Quality Control Excel for Research: Data Visualization
Additional Training Materials:	Excel Quick Start guide This introductory guide to Excel is clear, succinct, and well-organized. The Excel is Fun YouTube channel offers advanced training in all aspects of Excel, with worksheets.
Accessibility:	Click here to learn how to use Excel with a screen reader and click here for best practices for designing accessible Excel spreadsheets. All of our workshop classrooms are wheelchair accessible and offer at least some chairs with no arms.

Excel Exercises

Excel for Research: Spreadsheet Quality Control

Software:	Although this workshop has Excel in the title, all lessons apply equally to Excel and Google Sheets.
Duration:	60 min
Room description:	Varies. Often held in Knight Library 267b or the Knight Library DREAM Lab workshop space
Prerequisites:	Experience entering data into Excel or Google Sheets Comfortable adding, copying, and splitting data in Excel or Google Sheets. If you are unsure or want to review before the class, see the Add, Fill, and Split portions of this worksheet.
Skills Taught / Learning Outcomes:	Dates as data - beware! Basic quality control and data manipulation in spreadsheets Exporting data from spreadsheets
Class Materials:	This workshop is based on the second half of this Tidy Data course material
Related Classes:	Excel for Research: Formatting and Data Wrangling Excel for Research: Data Visualization
Additional Training Materials:	Excel Quick Start guide. This introductory guide to Excel is clear, succinct, and well-organized. The Excel is Fun YouTube channel offers advanced training in all aspects of Excel, with worksheets.
Accessibility:	Click here to learn how to use Excel with a screen reader and click here for best practices for designing accessible Excel spreadsheets. All of our workshop classrooms are wheelchair accessible and offer at least some chairs with no arms.

Excel for Research: Data Visualization

Software:	Although this workshop has Excel in the title, all lessons apply equally to Excel and Google Sheets.
Duration:	60 min
Room description:	Varies. Often held in Knight Library 267b or the Knight Library DREAM Lab workshop space
Prerequisites:	Experience entering data into Excel or Google Sheets Comfortable manipulating tables in Excel or Google Sheets. If you are unsure or want to review before the class, see the Sort & filter, Tables, and PivotTables portions of this worksheet.
Skills Taught / Learning Outcomes:	Basic charts Combo charts Best practices in building data visualizations Preview of PivotTables and PivotCharts
Class Materials:	We begin by exploring the Charts tab of this workbook, also available in Excel as a template called "Take a Tour"
Related Classes:	Excel for Research: Formatting and Data Wrangling Excel for Research: Spreadsheet Quality Control
Additional Training Materials:	Excel Quick Start guide. This introductory guide to Excel is clear, succinct, and well-organized. The Excel is Fun YouTube channel offers advanced training in all aspects of Excel, with worksheets.
Accessibility	Click here to learn how to use Excel with a screen reader and click here for best practices for designing accessible Excel spreadsheets. All of our workshop classrooms are wheelchair accessible and offer at least some chairs with no arms.