Introduction to Data Science

An Introduction to Data Science is an easy-to-read, gentle introduction for advanced undergraduate, certificate, and graduate students coming from a wide range of backgrounds into the world of data science. After introducing the basic concepts of data science, the book builds on these foundations to explain data science techniques using the R programming language and RStudio® from the ground up. Short chapters allow instructors to group concepts together for a semester course and provide students with manageable amounts of information for each concept. By taking students systematically through the R programming environment, the book takes the fear out of data science and familiarizes students with the environment so they can be successful when performing advanced functions.   The authors cover statistics from a conceptual standpoint, focusing on how to use and interpret statistics, rather than the math behind the statistics. This text then demonstrates how to use data effectively and efficiently to construct models, predict outcomes, visualize data, and make decisions. Accompanying digital resources provide code and datasets for instructors and learners to perform a wide range of data science tasks.  

Jeffrey S. Saltz is currently an Associate Professor at Syracuse University, in the School of Information Studies. His research and teaching focus on helping organizations leverage information technology and data for competitive advantage. Specifically, Jeff’s current research focuses on the socio-technical aspects of data science projects, such as how to coordinate and manage data science teams. In order to stay connected to the “real world”, Jeff consults with clients ranging from professional football teams to Fortune 500 organizations. Prior to becoming a professor, Jeff’s 20+ years of industry experience focused on leveraging emerging technologies and data analytics to deliver innovative business solutions. In his last corporate role, at JPMorgan Chase, he reported to the firm′s Chief Information Officer and drove technology innovation across the organization. Jeff also held several other key technology management positions at the company, including CTO and Chief Information Architect.  Jeff has also served as chief technology officer and principal investor at Goldman Sachs, where he invested and helped incubate technology start-ups. He started his career as a programmer, project leader and consulting engineer with Digital Equipment Corp.   Jeff holds a B.S. degree in computer science from Cornell University, an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.  Jeffrey M. Stanton, Ph.D. (University of Connecticut, 1997) is Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and Professor of Information Studies at Syracuse University. Dr. Stanton’s research focuses on organizational behavior and technology. He is the author of Information Nation: Educating the Next Generation of Information Professionals (2010), with Dr. Indira Guzman and Dr. Kathryn Stam. Stanton has also published many scholarly articles in peer-reviewed behavioral science journals, such as the Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, and Human Performance. His articles also appear in Journal of Computational Science Education, Computers and Security, Communications of the ACM, Computers in Human Behavior, the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, Information Technology and People, the Journal of Information Systems Education, the Journal of Digital Information, Surveillance and Society, and Behaviour & Information Technology. He also has published numerous book chapters on data science, privacy, research methods, and program evaluation.  Dr. Stanton’s methodological expertise is in psychometrics with published works on the measurement of job satisfaction and job stress. Dr. Stanton′s research has been supported through 18 grants and supplements including the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award.