Unlocking the Potential of Empirical Research: An Introduction to R for Statistical Analysis and Data Visualisation
Unlocking the Potential of Empirical Research: An Introduction to R for Statistical Analysis and Data Visualisation
The Institute for Lifecourse & Society (ILAS) organized a hands-on research training session titled “Unlocking the Potential of Empirical Research: An Introduction to R for Statistical Analysis and Data Visualisation” on Tuesday, 27th February 2024, held in Room 2015 of the ILAS Building from 9:30am to 4:00pm. Part of ILAS’s International Research Training Series under the overarching initiative “Enabling Equity Across the Lifecourse”, the workshop was designed to equip participants with practical R programming skills tailored to empirical research in disciplines such as economics and health sciences.
Led by Luis Garcia-Covarrubias, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, the session guided attendees through importing varied datasets, computing descriptive statistics, creating visualizations, and drawing meaningful inferences. Luis’s background includes roles as a Research Statistics Officer at University Hospital Galway and as Chief Data Officer for an NGO in Mexico and Latin America. His research interests span agricultural and environmental economics, and he applies econometrics and data science across fields like labour economics, education, and medical sciences. He has taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
By the end of the day, participants gained the foundational ability to use R for data manipulation, exploratory analysis, and visual storytelling skills that enhance capacity to tackle specific research questions across domains. The seminar offered valuable professional development for emerging researchers, enabling them to apply quantitative methodologies flexibly in empirical studies and policy-relevant contexts.
