Open Source Data Management
More coming soon. Please contact me regarding paper in preparation entitled “Using Open Source Software for the Management of Large Datasets.”
Abstract
Although this approach is not wholly novel, its use here is not common in educational research. Specifically, the approach is illustrated for a Head Start and University research project where details and strategies are provided for key components of a web centric application that includes: data design (i.e. normalization); utilization of a Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LAMP) framework; creating scripts to edit and view data (minimal programming experience required); sensitivity to security concerns, including limited access based upon credentials; and analyses with R. Key advantages to this approach include the ability for multiple researchers to access data simultaneously without compromising the integrity of the data. All advantages of a web application are inherited including real-time analysis as data are collected from any geographically dispersed location with access to an Internet connected computer. Source code for key components are provided with the full source code and additional R examples available at the authors website.
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