2021/2022

Python as a Tool for Data Collection and Analysis

Type: Optional course (faculty)

Delivered by: International College of Economics and Finance

Where: International College of Economics and Finance

When: 3, 4 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Alla Tambovtseva

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 32

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Course is an optional one module course. During this course students will learn basics of programming, methods to process and visualize qualitative and quantitative data, and approaches to retrieving information from the Internet using web scraping and API requests. The ultimate goal of the course is to provide students with techniques useful for data collection, data visualization and exploratory data analysis. The course is taught in two languages: Russian and English. Classes will be taught in Russian, and materials will be available in both Russian and English. Course prerequisites: No special requirements.

Learning Objectives

• The course is aimed at developing basic programming skills, learning methods of data processing and visualization using Python libraries, learning methods of collecting data from the Web.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Apply knowledge of different data structures to solve practical problems
• Apply methods of data processing and exploratory analysis using Pandas
• Collect data from the Internet via web scraping and API requests
• Use conditional structures, loops and functions to work with real data
• Visualize qualitative and quantitative data using graphical Python libraries
• Work in Jupyter Notebook, use interactive widgets and other elements of interaction with users

Course Contents

• Introduction to Python
• Data structures in Python: lists, tuples, dictionaries
• Control structures and functions in Python
• Working with data frames in Python with libraries NumPy and Pandas
• Data visualization with graphical Python libraries
• Collecting data from the Web using Python

Assessment Elements

• homeworks
• online practice
  Online practice includes doing tasks on the online platform DataCamp (https://www.datacamp.com/home), free access is provided to students. Online practice should be completed before the deadline (usually next class), late submissions will not be graded.
• final project
  For the final project students are expected to write a program of practical use that includes requesting some input from a user, retrieving data from the Internet and processing these data. For the final project students should submit two files: a file with Python code (ipynb-file or py-file), and a file with documentation for this code that describes its aims, usage and limitations. Project can be done individually or in groups up to 3 people.

Interim Assessment

• 2021/2022 4th module
  0.4 * homeworks + 0.2 * online practice + 0.4 * final project

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Nelli, F. (2015). Python Data Analytics : Data Analysis and Science Using Pandas, Matplotlib and the Python Programming Language. [Berkeley, CA]: Apress. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1056488

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• G. Nair, V. (2014). Getting Started with Beautiful Soup. Birmingham, UK: Packt Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=691839