R: Code, Import, Transform Data

Overview

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This foundational course is your entry point into the world of data analysis with R. Designed for aspiring market research analysts and data professionals, this course teaches you how to write your first R scripts to take control of your data. You'll move from understanding core R syntax like variables, vectors, and data frames to applying that knowledge in practical, hands-on scenarios. You will learn how to import data from common file types like CSVs and perform the essential first steps of any analysis: cleaning and transformation. Through a series of focused videos, readings, and hands-on learnings, you'll master how to select the data you need and rename columns for clarity and consistency. By the end, you won't just understand the code; you'll have written a script that prepares a raw dataset for analysis, a fundamental skill that underpins real-world projects at companies like the BBC and the Financial Times. This course provides the critical building blocks for a career in data.

Syllabus

R Syntax and Programming Fundamentals

This introductory module provides the essential building blocks for working in R. You'll explore why a clear, consistent syntax is critical for reproducible data analysis, using examples from leading data journalism teams. You will learn to create the core components you'll use in every R project: variables, vectors, and data frames. Through hands-on practice, you'll write your first lines of R code and solidify your understanding of these fundamental concepts.

Data Import and Initial Transformation

In this module, you will apply your knowledge of R syntax to perform one of the most common tasks in data analysis: importing and cleaning a dataset. Drawing on examples from Google Cloud's use of R with BigQuery, you'll see why this first step is so critical. You will learn to use read.csv() to load data into R and then apply functions to select and rename columns, preparing the data for analysis. The module culminates in a final project where you will write a complete script to clean a real-world dataset.