From 7dbc8e10e350bf1c15083cc52aadbd2cfd4b3298 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tim Dennis Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2024 14:34:58 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] changing content to advise use of README fixes #36 by mirroring DataCarpentry ecology lesson recommended practice (using README to capture data prep) and not use note spreadsheet tab. --- episodes/01-format-data.md | 20 +++++++------------- 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-) diff --git a/episodes/01-format-data.md b/episodes/01-format-data.md index 66f6f29c..156a8566 100644 --- a/episodes/01-format-data.md +++ b/episodes/01-format-data.md @@ -89,19 +89,13 @@ When working with spreadsheets during data clean up or analyses, it's very easy to end up with a spreadsheet that looks very different from the one you started with. In order to be able to reproduce your analyses or figure out what you did when your leadership team ask for a different analysis, -you **must:** - -- **create a new file or tab with your cleaned or analyzed data.** Do - not modify that original dataset, or you will never know where you - started! -- **keep track of the steps you took in your clean up or analysis.** - You should track these steps as a scientist would each step in an - experiment. You can do this in another text file, or a good option - is to create a new tab in your spreadsheet with your notes. This way - the notes and data stay together. Be sure you're saving your spreadsheet - with a file format compatible with multiple tabs, if you do this! - -This might be an example of a spreadsheet setup: +you **should:** + +- create a new file with your cleaned or analyzed data. Don’t modify the original dataset, or you will never know where you started! +- keep track of the steps you took in your clean up or analysis. You should track these steps as you would any step in an experiment. We recommend that you do this in a plain text file stored in the same folder as the data file. +- record the steps you followed in your data cleanup or analysis. Just as you would document key actions in a research project, it's important to keep a clear record of your workflow. We suggest saving this documentation in a plain text file within the same folder as your data file for easy access and organization. + +This might be an example of the setup as you work: ![](fig/spreadsheet-setup.png){alt='spreadsheet setup'}