Make an appointment for a Data Consultation
Program Overview
The Data Consulting Program provides free, one-on-one support to members of the GW community who are working with quantitative data. The data consultants can help develop skills with analyzing data in R, Python, Stata, SAS, SPSS, or building confidence with statistical concepts. Open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and other members of the GW community, the program is designed to meet you where you are. Our consultants can assist with everything from foundational statistics to advanced analysis, data visualization, and troubleshooting code.
How to Use Data Consulting?
Scheduling a data consultation is easy. GW students, faculty, and staff can book appointments through their Penji account. Consultations may take place via Zoom or in person, depending on availability and preference. While you don’t need to prepare anything in advance, it’s helpful to bring questions, data files, or project goals you’d like to discuss. Not sure where to begin? That’s perfectly fine. Our consultants will work with you to figure out the best place to start.
Need more information about using Penji or our cancellation policy? Visit our GW Penji User Guide or check our Help Navigating Academic Commons page for full details.
Making the Most of Data Consulting
Research at GW is a collaborative process. From starting to explore a topic or analyzing complex data, there are a range of campus resources available to support researchers' work. The Data Consulting Program is one of many services that can help guide researchers through their research journey, alongside librarians, faculty mentors, and other academic support partners across the university. The sections below highlight common research stages and direct researchers toward the appropriate resources to support each step.
Common Research Stages
Beginning a research project can feel overwhelming. From developing a research question, exploring existing literature, or defining the research focus, there are resources available:
- Talk with a professor or mentor in your field.
- Explore research databases relevant to your topic.
- Scheduling a consultation with a librarian in Gelman Library (or one of GW's specialized libraries, such as Himmelfarb for health sciences or the Jacob Burns Law Library for law-related topics).
Good research relies on good data. For those who need help identifying, accessing, or preparing data for analysis, consider these options:
- Consult with faculty experienced in data collection.
- Meet with a data services librarian to explore available datasets.
- Reviewing archived data related to the research topic and questions.
- Work with a software development librarian to prepare the data for analysis.
Ready to dig into analysis? The university offers support to help researchers choose the right methods, use data tools, and build statistical skills:
- Meet with a faculty mentor familiar with your methodology.
- Book a consultation with a Data Consultant in Academic Commons.
- Explore tutorials through LinkedIn Learning (free with a GW account).
Once your analysis is complete, it’s time to interpret the results and connect them to the broader academic conversation:
- Review findings with a faculty member in the discipline.
- Meet with a librarian to help situate the results within the existing scholarship.
- Engage with peers and scholars at campus events, conferences, or seminars.
