Analyze Data
Sheridan Library provides a collection of resources to help researchers selecting a variety of data analysis software. Get started by selecting the commercial and open access/free software you are interested in.
|
Software |
Category |
Personal Access |
Windows |
Mac |
Web-based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPSS | Statistical | Available via Sheridan AppsAnywhere | YES | YES | NO |
| SAS | Statistical | Free download for SAS university edition. Installation instructions are available here. | YES | YES | NO |
| Nvivo | Statistical | Available via Sheridan Research Office | YES | YES | NO |
| ArcGIS | GIS | Create a trial ArcGIS online account for 21 days. Or create a free ArcGIS public account with limited-functionality | YES | YES | NO |
| SimplyAnalytics | Business Data; Data Visualization | Available via Sheridan library | YES | YES | YES |
| MATLAB | Statistical | Available via Sheridan AppsAnywhere | YES | YES | NO |
| Tableau Desktop | Data Visualization | Tableau offers one-year free license for students at accredited academic institutions. Instructor also can apply for one-year license and more details can be found here | YES | YES | NO |
|
Software |
Category |
Access |
Windows |
Mac |
Web-based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSPP | Statistical | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| Tableau Public | Data Visualization | Free online access (Account sign-up is required) | YES | YES | YES |
| Qlik | Data Visualization | Free download for Qlik View Personal Edition (Account sign-up is required) | YES | YES | NO |
| Story Maps | GIS | Free online access (Account sign-up is required) | YES | YES | YES |
| R | Statistical; Data Visualization | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| Python | Statistical; Data Visualization | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| QGIS | GIS | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| Google Earth Pro | GIS | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| OpenRefine | Data Cleaning | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| PiktoChart | Data Visualization | Free access with limited capabilities (Account sign-up is required) | YES | YES | YES |
| Plotly | Data Visualization | Free access with limited capabilities (Account sign-up is required) | YES | YES | NO |
| Gephi | Data Visualization | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| Leaflet | Data Visualization | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| D3.js | Data Visualization | Free download | YES | YES | NO |
| Palladio | Data Visualization | Free online access | YES | YES | YES |
Open Source/Free Qualitative Analysis Software
- AQUAD: Originally developed by Günter Huber at the University of Tübingen for analysis of textual, audio, video, and image data, a detailed listing of features can be found at AQUAD Features.
- QDA Miner Lite: This is the free version of QDA Miner developed by Provalis Research. It has limited functionality, but you could still perform the basic functions. To compare features and download QDA Miner Lite, visit Provalis QDA Miner.
- Taguette: It is an open source qualitative analysis program. Users can tag words, sentences, paragraphs with the codes you create. Check out the features for text analysis.
- General Architecture for Text Engineering (GATE): It is a Java suite of tools used for all sorts of natural language processing tasks. The Text Analytics software was developed at the University of Sheffield beginning in 1995. More features can be found at GATE Main Site.
- TAMS Analyzer: TAMS stands for Text Analysis Markup System. It is used to identify themes in texts (web pages, interviews, field notes). It was designed for use in ethnographic and discourse research. Check TAMS site.
- Weft QDA: Weft QDA is a free and open source tool for the analysis of textual data such as interview transcripts, fieldnotes and other documents. Check out Weft QDA website.
- RQDA & QCoder: RQDA is a R package for Qualitative Data Anaysis, a free qualitative analysis software application. To find out more details about RQDA, please visit RQDA.
- Qualcoder: Developed by Colin Curtain of Australia as a fallout of his PhD work using RQDA. If you like RQDA, this may boost your research to include audio and video.
Learning Resources
SPSS
SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is a flexible statistical anlaysis program running on Windows and Mac operating systems. The menu-driven interface makes it well suited for beginner users of statistical software programs.
Commonly used in:
- Social sciences
- Health sciences
- Marketing
- Academia
Useful links:
SAS
SAS is a comprehensive statistical software package that runs on Windows, Mac and UNIX systems. Although the program is generally well suited to power users, it has a point-and-click interface which makes some features more accessible to new users.
Commonly used in:
- Business
- Manufacturing
- Health and Life Sciences
- Researches with large datasets
Useful links:
NVivo
NVivo is a qualitative data analysis software program compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems. Users can organize, sort and code qualitative data by importing original sources in pdf, video, audio, and spreadsheets among other formats. Once the qualitative data is entered, NVivo can perform queries and model trends using graphs and other visualisations.
Commonly used in:
- Social Sicences
- Health science
- Marketing
- Researches with rich text-based or multimedia information
Useful links:
MATLAB
MATLAB is software for mathematical computation, analysis, visualization, and algorithm development. MATLAB features a family of application-specific solutions called toolboxes.
Commonly used in:
- Engineering
- Economics
- Science
- Academia
Useful links:
ArcGIS
ArcGIS Desktop allows you to analyze your data and author geographic knowledge to examine relationships, test predictions, and ultimately make better decisions.
Commonly used in:
- GIS & IT professionals
- Application developers
- Public and Community Studies
- Public Sector and Government agencies
- Education
- Applied Science and Technology
- Social Sciences
Useful links:
Tableau Public
Tableau Public is a free version of an interactive data visualization tool. Tableau can help you design interactive dashboard/visualizations from complex data sets and share them online.
Useful links:
SimplyAnalytics
SimplyAnalytics (formerly SimplyMap) is a web-based mapping application that lets users quickly create professional-quality thematic maps and reports using powerful demographic, business, and marketing data.
Commonly used in
- Community health
- Political Science
- Economics
- Aboriginal and women studies
- Education
- Social Work
- Geography
Useful links:
Books
