Graduate Portfolio | lubov mckone

Data Dictionaries 101: Tell the Story of your Data

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This is a plan for a workshop that provides an overview of data documentation and provides hands-on experience creating data dictionaries to graduate student researchers at a large university.

Methods

I conducted a needs assessment based on a literature review grounding this project in the data information literacy needs of graduate students researchers. I created a program plan including learning objectives, outcomes, and evaluation instruments. I created supporting materials including a survey, slide deck, and worksheet to support the program.

My role

I am the sole author of this project.

Learning Outcome Achieved: User-centered services

This project is grounded in a needs assessment that demonstrates through a review of relevant literature the data information literacy needs of graduate researchers, and the best approaches for meeting this need. The workshop I designed caters to multiple learning modalities including presentation, group active learning strategies, and individual reflection that gives attendees the opportunity to connect the workshop content to their own experiences, demonstrating a user-centered approach to data information literacy instruction. Concepts related to data information literacy are presented in an accessible way, and additional resources in a variety of modalities (print, video, examples) are linked.

Fictitious Public Library's Strategic Agenda for Data Literacy & Research Services

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This project is a strategic plan for implementing a suite of data literacy-related services in a fictitious public library.

Methods

For the benchmarking exercise, I surveyed the websites of 4 public libraries in major North American cities and evaluated them on a scale of 0-4 in the categories of Data-Focused Collections & Guides, Data Curation, Data Literacy Instruction, and Data Consultation Services. To do this, I created a custom rubric for scoring in each category based on the landscape of data services in public libraries that I observed. I then conducted a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats for a public library seeking to implement data services. I set goals for the strategic plan and created a roadmap broken into different phases.

My role

I was the sole author of this project.

Learning Outcomes Achieved: Foundations of Library & Information Studies

This project applies my understanding of core library functions of collection building, curation, instruction, and research services, and applies common related theories and approaches to the specific environment of public library data services. The benchmarking study displays an understanding of how core library services of reference, instruction, and collection development vary in different contexts and environments, while the strategic plan applies this knowledge to development of new services

Making the Desert Island Discs Dataset: Data Visceralization and How We Don't Know What We Know

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This collaborative digital humanities project served as the capstone for my certificate in the Digital Humanities. For this project, I and my co-researchers generated a collection of “data visceralizations,” or representations of data that don’t rely solely on sight. In our case, these included physical objects, sound compositions, and interactive experiences. These outputs are intended to serve as “knowledge objects” that give audiences the opportunity to experience the processes of creating and working with data, contributing to critical understandings of data as a product. By pointing to the human intervention needed in computational processes and engaging the audience through different modalities, we aimed to expand the developing canon of the Digital Humanities and encourage critical approaches to knowledge creation across the field.

Methods

This project was authored by a group of 5 researchers including myself, fellow students Carol Choi, Jessika Davis, and Ava Kaplan, and faculty member John Decker. We worked together as co-researchers to collaboratively scope the project, source a dataset, and document our work and references on a project website.

My role

For my individual contribution, I used OpenRefine and R to convert a binary representation of the dataset into a crochetable pattern. From the pattern, I created a textile representation of data and authored an accompanying narrative connecting my “data visceralization” to the project goals and existing scholarly work across the fields of digital humanities, critical data studies, media studies and computing history.

Learning Outcome Achieved: Technology

This project demonstrates my understanding of the programming language R and the data manipulation tool OpenRefine. I undertook a creative application of these tools to the task of creating a crochet pattern out of a dataset via scripting. In the narrative detailing my process, I articulated problems I encountered when using these tools, and outlined my problem-solving process.

Learning Outcome Achieved: Ethical/Creative/Critical Practice

This project is a critical investigation of the efficacy of traditional visualization formats and what they obscure. It offers data “visceralization” as an alternative display format that can both communicate the labor, time, and subjectivity involved in data collection, processing, and analysis, and engage a wider audience. As a direct response to trends in digital humanities research, this project shows a detailed understanding of the field of digital humanities, and demonstrates an ability to creatively reflect on our own digital humanities practices.

From Access to Accountability: A Case for Critically Contextualizing Open Government Data

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this research paper, I assessed the extent to which open government data portals meet their stated goal of supporting government accountability. Through critical engagement with scholarly work and an analysis of contributions to NYC Open Data’s Project Gallery, I demonstrated that open government data portals are currently geared towards technical users in the private sector and academia. I explored the potential for such portals to increase their accessibility and support critical data literacy by contextualizing open datasets with information about data collection methods and internal uses, culminating in a conceptual model for advancing transparency in open data publishing.

Methods

My primary research method was review of literature from the fields of information science, government information studies, and critical literacies, and critical data studies. In addition, I manually collected and analyzed information about contributors to NYC Open Data’s Project Gallery in order to get a sense of who is making use of government data.

My role

I am the sole author of this project.

Learning Outcome Achieved: Research

In this paper, I investigated my thesis that critically contextualizing open datasets can increase the accessibility of open government data portals through engagement with and citation of quality sources from a variety of fields. I collected original quantitative data and generated summary statistics and graphics that supported my thesis, culminating in recommendations for portal features that could expand the audience of open government portals to non-expert users and thus support their goal of transparency for accountability.