Aidan Kane » student research projects

More on animated population pyramids: small multiples

Aidan Kane — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:56:27 +0000

The animated population pyramid (Ireland 1950-2009) previously posted here can be used to generate this series of small multiple images. Click on the image below to see the pdf version for a better resolution.

Innovation Task Force report

Aidan Kane — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:59:04 +0000

The report of the Innovation Task Force is now available.

http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Innovation_Taskforce/

Note: in a previous post I mistakenly said that the chair of this group was Chris Horn, who is indeed one of the group’s most high-profile members–but the chair, is of course, Dermot McCarthy, Secretary to the Government.

An animated empirical graph: Irish population pyramids

Aidan Kane — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:45:07 +0000

I’ve been exploring the LaTeX package animate which, as the name suggests, facilitates animated graphics.

I’ve been using the basic features of the package to generate an animation of population pyramids for Ireland, showing the evolution of age cohorts in the population since the first post Independence Census, in 1926. This file is a pdf file, so it can be saved and viewed locally. Never knew pdf was so flexible!

More examples of the package are available here.

Data visualisation

Aidan Kane — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:16:45 +0000

Fascinating 6 minute talk at TED on a data visualisation tool:

Or see it on TED

What should a good student do in response to the perception of grade inflation?

Aidan Kane — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:28:32 +0000

So we’ve been having a ‘debate’ about grade inflation. Much of it has been focussed on the supply-side of the education system, and on one component of demand—from employers. But what of the students?

In particular, let’s think of the individual, good student—of which, at the risk of serious understatement, there are many. What advice would anyone have for a member of this silent minority?

So let’s say you’re a good student: hard-working, engaged, willing to learn, motivated. It might matter to you that grade inflation exists or not, but irrespective, it matters that the perception
of it exists, justified or not, and it matters to you that this might taint your hard-won grades, and so perhaps first job prospects, next postgrad steps, or maybe it just offends your sense of justice.

What should you do, in your study life, and/or beyond?

It’d be interesting to hear from students, teachers/academics and employers and I’m sure others, besides.

The format of a student research project in economics

Aidan Kane — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:47:42 +0000

A guide I wrote a while back, mainly covering the form and structure of an undergraduate student research project/paper in economics.
download it here.