Summer School on Applied Data Analysis with Python

The Research and Study Group members were trained at the Summer School on Applied Data Analysis with Python, organized by the International Laboratory for Applied Network Analysis of the HSE

The summer school that was held from August 6 to August 10 was aimed at acquainting listeners with one of the most frequent programming languages - Python. The schedule includes several wide sections covering topics from acquaintance with the basics of the language to the application of in-depth learning methods. The section on network data collection attracted strong interest among the RSG members, so young researchers not only deepened the knowledge of the website structure and data on them but also mastered the new way of parsing - use of the ‘requests’ library. As expected, the acquired skills were integrated into the research group's studies immediately.

The RSG members share their feelings on the Summer School.

 

Marya Vorobyeva (the third year student of the ‘Sociology’ educational program):

I liked the Summer School on Applied Data Analysis with Python. The program of the school was quite intensive, much of the material I learned should help me with my project on parsing ‘The choice of the movie: social determinants’, other topics have expanded my horizons and helped to learn deeper the methods and ways of data analysis. In general, it was quite an interesting experience - to look at data analysis through the eyes of IT specialists, not sociologists. I realized that many important things, mostly related to the mathematical justification of models, sociologists disregard, unfortunately. However, we care more about data sources, we know the background of each variable, and not just get the ready databases and analyze them.

Moreover, I would like to note the very friendly atmosphere of the school: all the teachers were ready to help anyone with any question, not even relating to the material passed, but with ones aroused because of Python self-studying.

Tamara Mkhitaryan (the last year student of the ‘Sociology’ educational program):

Participation in the Summer School ‘Application analysis of data using Python’ was the interesting experience for me, which made it possible to get acquainted with the possibilities of managing with open data, as well as to expand my horizons concerning the functioning of the Internet space. I enjoy when learning does not end in teaching skills to work with the right formulas in a particular programming language, but it also covers the communicating areas of the subject. For instance, it was very interesting to learn about how the website that we are going to parse is being created. I remember that the website has got three types of requests: ‘get’, ‘post’ and ‘delete’, and each of them work according to a certain algorithm. Moreover, one day we were recommended a program with which we can create our own website from scratch and briefly explained the stages of its creation. When we were learning how to parse websites, we have been told how to analyze big data in addition. In this part, we discovered the various algorithms for constructing decision trees. Among them were those I had never heard of before. It seemed interesting to me to focus on this thing and to do a small research aimed at comparing each of the methods on the parsing database.

Expressing my feelings, in short, the Summer School has given me more than I expected, thanks to the special approach of the teachers who sought to interest us, adding topics and practical examples, which can inspire and expand our interests, to the main subject.

Maria Rodionova (the last year student of the ‘Sociology’ educational program):

I am sincerely glad that I managed to attend the summer school on Python, it was a very useful, interesting and fascinating experience. On the school, it was possible to learn new skills to manage with data that were so necessary, as well as to meet new people and get to know our colleagues better.

The School format contributed not only to communicate with colleagues on the topic of interests that unite us but also rethink the skills that have already been acquired. I received a lot of new skills, which I have already applied to manage with the string answers and graphical information. I would like to thank the organizers for the excellent lectures and warm atmosphere :)