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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE/SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
POLS0010
Data Analysis
ESSAY QUESTIONS 2017–2018 (TERM 1)
Guidelines for Completing and Submitting POLS0010 Essay
§ Read the below guidelines to avoid losing unnecessary marks.
§ The assessment is due on 26th November 2018, 14.00 hours. Please follow all
designated Department of Political submission guidelines. THESE MAY BE
DIFFERENT TO THOSE OF YOUR HOST DEPARTMENT. The submission
guidelines are available on the Moodle page for this module. You must submit
two copies of your essay via Turnitin. One with and one without the R script file
and tables and figures. The word limit is 1,500 words.
§ This is an assessed piece of coursework for the POLS0010 module; collaboration
and/or discussion with anyone is strictly prohibited. The rules for plagiarism apply
and any cases of suspected plagiarism of published work or the work of
classmates will be taken seriously.
Assessment Part 1
This assessment tests your ability to think about the ways data can be processed and
analysed.
The task is to write a simple function in R. The function itself should perform one or a
number of spatial analysis routines, and produce an output file and/or visualisation of
a dataset we have used in class or that you have sourced yourself. You should submit
the code with your R Script file. Examples will be provided in class.
Things to consider:
1. The final function should address a clear problem and turn the raw data into
information.
2. You may wish to integrate the plotting of data into the function but this may
not always be appropriate.
3. The function should offer a number of clearly explained parameters for the
user to adjust if they wish to experiment with a range of results.
The accompanying write-up should take the form of a manual for the function’s use.
It should include:
1. A flow diagram to demonstrate the sequence of steps in the function.
2. Explanation of the R object format required – such as what variables are
required.
3. A worked example of the function in action.
You may also wish to include:
1. The need for such a function to be written and rationale for your approach.
2. A description of the data used to demonstrate the function.
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3. The scientific basis and brief description of the analysis implemented.
4. Testing you have performed to ensure the outputs are reliable.
5. Potential applications of the function beyond those demonstrated.
6. Limitations.
The function itself is worth 30 points, with 20 points available for the manual.
