On Tuesday, February 20th, the Data Institute for Societal Challenges (DISC) Community of Practice (CoP) on Machine Learning & Big Data in the Social Sciences successfully hosted an immersive workshop aimed at empowering researchers with practical skills in Python programming and basic natural language processing (NLP) workflows.
The workshop took place from 11 am to 1 pm in the Geosciences computer lab. Dr. Heather Bedle, an expert in the field, led the session, guiding participants through a series of exercises designed to explore the fundamentals of working with free-response answers derived from social surveys.
The workshop focused on providing attendees with essential steps to initiate the analysis of textual datasets, equipping them with valuable insights into leveraging machine learning and big data methodologies in the social sciences. Despite varying levels of programming experience among participants, the workshop ensured an inclusive learning environment accessible to all interested researchers.
Through an interactive session and guided tutorial, participants gained actionable skills applicable to their research endeavors. The hands-on experience allowed attendees to delve into practical exercises aimed at enhancing their proficiency in Python and basic NLP workflows.
The workshop proved to be a unique opportunity for individuals interested in the intersection of data science and social sciences to expand their skill set in machine learning and big data analytics. Attendees expressed appreciation for the engaging and informative nature of the workshop, highlighting its value in enhancing their research capabilities.
The success of the workshop underscored DISC's commitment to fostering collaborative learning environments and providing valuable resources for researchers interested in harnessing the power of data analytics in the social sciences.
If you are interested in learning more about our communities of practice, please use this link: https://ou.edu/disc/initiatives/communities-of-practice.
