Data Collection, Analysis, & Visualization Tools

We use the following for data analysis:

  • Python
  • R
  • SPSS

For surveys DU utilizes:

  • Qualtrics
  • Redcap

The primary data visualization tools DU uses are:

  • Cognos Query Studio
  • Tableau

Data Analysis Tools

  • computer icon

    Python

    Python is a highly extensible open-source scripting language that can be used for data analysis, modeling, visualization and automation. For more information, or to download a supported distribution, please visit the .

    If you need assistance on how to use Python, please reach out to Ben Siebrase ben.siebrase@du.edu.

  • icon of laptop

    R

    R is a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics. It compiles and runs on a wide variety of UNIX platforms, Windows and MacOS. For more information and to download, please go .

    If you need assistance on how to use R, please reach out to Brian Pattiz brian.pattiz@du.edu.

  • laptop icon

    SPSS

    IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) provides data and statistical analysis, file management capabilities, graphics and reporting features. SPSS Modules include:

    • Advanced Statistics
    • Custom Tables
    • Forecasting
    • Regression
    • Tables Original
    • Trends Original
    • Data Preparation
    • Bootstrapping
    • Neural Networks

    For more information please visit IT's page on how to download. If you need assistance on how to use SPSS, please reach out to Katia Miller katia.miller@du.edu

Survey Tools

Qualtrics

We administer the University's site license for , a robust survey tool that students, faculty, and staff can use for free with an active DU email address.

Qualtrics provides direct support to help users construct, deploy, and report on surveys. You can visit the page for more information.

If you require additional assistance with logging in, transferring survey ownership, troubleshooting a problem in Qualtrics, or general Qualtrics guidance, please .听

Note: you will need to logged into your DU account to access the ticket system.

  • Creating an Account

    You can create an account for yourself through the DU Qualtrics homepage:

    1. Visit the homepage. You will be routed to DU's single sign-on (SSO).
    2. Type in your DU e-mail and password.
    3. Click "No, I don't have a preexisting account here"
    4. Click "Log-in via username and password"

    Note: You will not be able to create an account using the DU license through the main Qualtrics site.

  • Training

    Access on-demand training with Qualtrics through . To access click "LOG IN" then click on 鈥淨ualtrics credentials.鈥 When it takes you to the log-in page, click on 鈥淪ign-in with SSO鈥 and then type in 鈥渦denver鈥 and click 鈥淐ontinue鈥. That should take you to DU鈥檚 single sign-on page, where you鈥檒l sign in with your DU email and DU password. If for some reason you get an error, try it in an incognito browser, or a browser different than the one you regularly use.

    Qualtrics also provides free online tutorials to help you learn the program at your own pace:

    • Step 1:
    • Step 2: and Logic
    • Step 3:
    • Step 4a: and
    • Step 4b:
    • Step 5:
    • Step 6:
    • Step 7:
  • Resources

    Learn how to get started using Qualtrics:

  • Research Success Kit

    Learn the principles of survey design and how to administer a survey effectively:

REDCap

REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases. While REDCap can be used to collect virtually any type of data in any environment (including compliance with 21 CFR Part 11, FISMA, HIPAA, and GDPR), it is specifically geared to support online and offline data capture for research studies and operations. The REDCap Consortium, a vast support network of collaborators, is composed of thousands of active institutional partners in over one hundred countries who utilize and support their own individual REDCap systems.

  • Administrative Support

    Information Technology听(IT) administers licenses for听, a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases. This application is available to faculty members conducting human subject research in which sensitive data will be collected.听

    For questions about REDCap, please contact:

    • It.redcap@du.edu
    • Adding new user accounts (of course);
    • Confirm user-names. ;
    • Moving new projects from design to production;
    • When REDCap automatically requires administrative review for project change requests, we will provide documentation for users to review. Users can then direct REDCap administrators to approve changes;
    • Introducing users to REDCap and providing initial consultation to help determine if it will work for their project;
    • Help connect users to existing support documentation and other self-directed training resources. There is an active user community across the nation and many questions can be answered consulting them;
    • Provide an API token as requested;
    • Basic overview of project elements. We can connect you to colleagues or other resources that may help you with more advanced features you might need to support your database/survey/project design.
  • Training

    REDCap provides free online resources to help you learn the program and collaborate with other users:

Data Visualization

Institutional Projects

Our office is available to help develop visualizations and dashboards for administrative use.

In order to ensure compliance with standards for reporting institutional data, we also recommend you work with our office when your visualizations will be used to:

  • share official institutional data internally or externally
  • deliver institutional data to senior staff or executive leadership
  • support non-academic assessment or program evaluation

For more information about developing data visualizations, please contact: Ben Siebrase

Cognos Query Studio听

Cognos Query Studio is a web-based tool for exploring, analyzing, and comparing dimensional data. Cognos helps users integrate our institutional information into data visualizations.

To gain access to Cognos, users must first have a Banner account (with the minimum access). Users will then need to submit a request indicating what access is required by selecting the appropriate Banner module access form.

Tableau

Tableau is a software solution used to visualize data and deploy interactive dashboards. We administer licenses for Tableau Desktop and partner with IT to administer Tableau Server, an environment where users may publish and manage their Tableau content.

  • Tableau Desktop

    IR&A administers a limited number of Tableau Desktop licenses for operational use. Students and instructors are eligible for free directly from Tableau.

    Getting Started

    In order to ensure efficient use of our available licenses, we can only release product keys when there is a demonstrated business need.

    If you are new to Tableau, we recommend you download the to help determine if Tableau is appropriate for your needs.

    Requesting a License

    To request a tableau desktop, please email the following information to Ben Siebrase:

    • First and last name
    • Unit and department
    • Brief description of how Tableau Desktop will be used

    Sharing Visualizations

    Visualizations that contain institutional data should be stored in Tableau Server, not Tableau Public. We also recommend disabling options for downloading data when publishing a visualization to Tableau Server.

  • Tableau Server

    IR&A partners with IT to administer Tableau Server for the University. Tableau server is a secure platform to which Tableau content may be published. Users may then manage and share this content through our server site. Visualizations stored in Tableau Server can be shared via URL, embedded within web pages or incorporated into Digital Hives.

    For more information about Tableau Server, please contact: Ben Siebrase

    Tableau Server Projects

    Projects in Tableau Server hold and organize related content and resources, including workbooks, views, and data sources. All visualizations that contain institutional data should be saved in a Tableau Server project or on a secure network drive.

    We will create a project in Tableau Server for your unit when a Tableau Desktop license is released to your area. Our office also maintains a series of institutional projects, which house content intended for institution-wide use.

    Tableau server permissions are managed primarily with Tableau-specific Active Directory Groups. Permissioning content at the user level is discouraged when avoidable. Tableau user groups for each area are broken up into the following broad roles.

    Project Leader
    • Security: Manages permissions for projects and workbooks.
    • Development: Can develop content in Tableau Desktop with a license.
    • Publishing: Can publish visualizations to Tableau Server.
    Publisher
    • Security: Manages permissions for workbooks they develop.
    • Development: Can develop content in Tableau Desktop with a license.
    • Publishing: Can publish visualizations to Tableau Server.
    Interactor
    • Security: Can interact with published visualizations.
    • Development: None.
    • Publishing: None.

Data Sources

We are available to help you understand the types of institutional data available for use in Tableau and how best to align your visualizations with institutional standards for reporting.

Internal Data Sources

Commonly used sources for integrating institutional data into Tableau visualizations include:

  • - (Accessible via VPN)
External Data Sources

Developers should work with Information Technology (IT) to manage data sources outside Banner and other University systems. These data sources may be shared and reused across the University in different Tableau visualizations.

For more information about managing data sources, please contact: Gohar Tovbis

Training & Support

We are available to answer questions about visualization best practices and to help with problems related to communicating institutional data in Tableau. We also encourage developers to connect with each other and share ideas through our Tableau user group.

Tableau offers a variety of resources to help you learn how to use Tableau Desktop and advance your skills as a developer: