Google tools useful in research

Through the years Google has made various applications accessible to public. Some platforms can be used heavily in academic (and not only) research.

1.Trends

Compare various terms for the frequency of use in the world wide web on a daily level since 2004. The terms the user might choose are infinite, the Search volume index can be downloaded in a CSV for further statistical processing. Also there are; time, regional, city, and language based filters than can applied for deeper analyses.

2. Insights

Like google Trends but more analytical and provides additional filters.

example: Check how Data from google insights has been used to create a proxy to measure racism among to U.S electorate

3. Ngram Viewer

Look the frequency of use of selected terms in printed literature since 1800.

4. Refine

Software for filtering and beautifying messy data.

5. Fusion Table

Upload your data and create a fusion table simply and easily.

6. Chart Tool

Making charts was never that simple.

7. Zeitgeist

Visualise search quary patterns.

8. Correlate

Search for terms that correlate in search quaries. You can even upload your own time series and check the correlation of the desireble terms against the dataset.

The impact of using blogs and site on Academic reputation

I reproduce a post from the LSE British Politics and Policy

With large impacts on dissemination of research and significant benefits in terms of individual reputations, David McKenzie and Berk Özler conclude that blogging academic or research work results in positive spillover effects for academic bloggers and their institutions while also influencing attitudes and knowledge amongst readers.

This article is cross-posted from the LSE’s Impact of Social Sciences blog.

A link between Corruption and Investment?

A really nice post regarding the potential correlation of Corruption and Investment. 

A measure of Bias in academia

Check this post in Freakonomics for a great study by Christis Tombazos and Matthew Dobra, who looked for bias within Australian academics.

What makes New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and others “cleaner” than most countries?

I reproduce the article by Marie Chêne from the Transparency International Blog

What makes New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and others “cleaner” than most countries?

by Marie Chêne on 7 December 2011 in Measurement and Research

Marie Chêne, Senior Research Coordinator at Transparency International, looks at the countries that are ranked highest in the 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index.

New Zealand, Denmark, Finland and Sweden have been consistently ranked at the top of the Corruption Perceptions Index and are perceived to be the least corrupt of all the countries surveyed.

They are not perfect – still falling short of the target 10 out of 10 on the index – but many still want to know about how these countries have managed to contain corruption.