Instructions

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You can find out more about how to use DataExplained by watching the short introduction video below. Please note that the functionality of the app has changed marginally since this video was produced. Please just get in touch with us if you have any questions about how to use DataExplained.

Example analysis

The instructions below provide a step-by-step example of how an analysis on DataExplained.

Please let us know if you have any other questions about this.

First, please enter the username and password you received via email here.

Please use the same username and password again here to access your RStudio workspace (we already created it for you).

This is your RStudio workspace, just as you would expect to see it in R.

Note that some files are already available for you to work with. However, you can also work with your own files.

You can then begin your analysis by adding R code  in the console.

After adding some lines of code you can hover over the grey bar with the “<” sign on the right to create blocks.  Each block should consist of a few lines of code that hang together and constitute a meaningful unit

Simply click on the lines of code that hang together as a meaningful unit and click on “Create Block”

Now you can provide some information about each block. Start by giving each block a name.

First describe in a few words what the code in this block does.

You can also provide information about analytical paths you didn’t take and why you chose not pursue these alternatives.

Next describe your reasons for creating this particular block in a few words.

And which preconditions – if any – should be met before executing this block.

Once all your lines have been assigned to blocks you can click on “Finish Analysis” in the bottom left corner of the screen.

You will then see an overview of all your blocks. 

Here you can also still move individual lines of codes into different blocks, or change the order of the blocks.

Finally, you can create a visual representation between all your blocks to show your workflow.

You can add connections between blocks by clicking on a block’s edges and then dragging the arrow to another block.

In this case the analyst looped through confirmatory analyses and exploratory analyses before arriving at a final result. Your workflow might look very different to this one.

Please save your workflow using the appropriate screenshot shortcut (mac/windows). We can also still send you a copy of this manually via email.

Further Resources

You can access more resources on our OSF and GitHub pages.