Data Science

The Brief

Consider an important question about this product or system that can be addressed using a predictive model. In general terms, a predictive model is a mathematical model (e.g., linear regression) that allows you to make a prediction on a variable (called dependent variable) given a set of relevant input data (referred as independent variables).

Our Inspiration

• Using 'big data' techniques to predict economic, political and social outcomes is potentially an extremely powerful tool, as illustrated by experience during the 2016 US Presidential election and UK Brexit referendum. For example, on. some accounts the role played by the Cambridge Analytica and its data tools has been both important and controversial.

• Given our interest as a group in political outcomes and choices, we decided to use parliamentary data as our source.

• Our goal was to assess how the characteristics of different Parliamentary constituencies in the UK (as reflected in data from the UK census and the constituency dashboard on Parliament's website) influenced a variety of political, social and economic outcomes.

• Each group member looked at a different aspect of these questions so that we would get an overall view on what features of a constituency influenced it the most and use this as a basis for deciding where to live.

Skills Developed

• Applying basic descriptive and inferential statistical analysis and data visualization techniques.

• Applying simple machine learning techniques, interpreting the results of such methods and techniques, and reporting them appropriately.

• Solving practical problems using different analytical techniques, and applying such methods using Python and Matlab.

Skills Developed

Owain Pill, Max Matthews, Chinene Chukwuma, William Jiang

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