Data Management
See our Data Management Manual (pdf) for a complete guide
1. Goal of Data Management
The goal is to ensure data quality through good record keeping and organization.
Data management is more than a one-person job: it all starts at the beginning
of a project, during study design, when field sheets are developed and responsibilities
are assigned. It involves the following people and their responsibilities:
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Data collectors
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Lab analyst
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Computer operator
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Proof reader
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and of course the Project coordinator
2. Get results on forms
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Design clear and useful forms for field sampling and lab work
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Filling out forms completely in the field and in the lab
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Gather forms at a single location promptly
3. Data Screening
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Collectors check their data sheets before turning them in
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Lab analysts do the same
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Coordinator verifies all data sheets and contacts volunteers for clarification
4. Storage Format
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On paper. NEVER throw away field and lab data sheets.
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On computer: a must if you have a lot of data.
5. Computer Data Entry
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Use a database manager such as MS Access or dBase, or a spreadsheet such as Excel
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Data validation: Proof for entry errors . Screen for outliers. Screen for consistency.
6. Data Conversion
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To translate raw numbers into final units of measurement.
7. Data Summary
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Develop tables and charts. See our ready to use spreadsheets under Data Management Utilities below
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Be sure to add benchmarks to make data interpretation easier
8. Data Display
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Display the results so they can be used in presentation. See our Data Presentation Manual.
MassWWP has developed two utilities to organize and graph chemical and macroinvertebrate data. The macroinvertebrate utility also includes automatic calculation of statistical summaries of a data set. Each utility is accompanied by a guidance document that will step you through the process of entering data and creating different styles of graphs.
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Macroinvertebrate data:
If you want to check out the files before downloading them, it is very important that you open them this order (or your software may hang up):
1. Bug template notes (a Word document with a guide book, which explains how to use the following workbooks)
2. Bugdataforms.xls (an Excel workbook)
3. Open a second copy of your web browser and in that window click on Bugchartmaster.xls (a second Excel workbook that works only if the previous one is open).
We suggest that you save these files on your computer (with PC right click on link and save as). Again do it in the order listed above (but you won't need to open a second copy of your browser).
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Chemical data:
1. Chemical spreadsheet notes is the guidance document (Word file)
2. Deerfield data.xls is an Excel workbooks (for rivers). This file tends to have problems when opened in the web browser. Best to save it to your computer and open it in Excel
3.lakecharts.xls is an Excel workbooks (for lakes).
If you have any difficulty opening or using these utilities, contact us and we will email you the files as attachments.
MassWWP activities and web site supported in part by
UMass Extension's Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation