ISSR Methodology Workshop | Introduction to the IHME Database and R Markdown

Instructor: Catie Kitrinos

This workshop is designed for participants familiar with R but beginners to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations Global Results Tool and R Markdown. The goal of the workshop is to develop a functional understanding of the IHME global health database (a tool which allows researchers to download metrics for hundreds of health conditions from hundreds of countries) and R Markdown (an R file format which can print analytical results and visualizations from R with its corresponding code for sharing with collaborators). 

We will begin by learning to complete basic tasks in the IHME Global Results Tool (setting search parameters, downloading datasets, navigating data structure). Then, we will move on to learning the basics of R Markdown (an R file format which can print analytical results and visualizations from R with its corresponding code for sharing with collaborators). Using R Markdown’s ‘chunk’ structure (a configuration which allows large blocks of code to be conveniently run together) we will produce visualizations (bar graphs, maps). Finally, we will learn to produce easily shareable .html files containing customizable output from the R Markdown file (code chunks, graphics, notes, warnings, and messages) to share with collaborators.

R experience is expected, and participants will be expected to have R and R Studio downloaded prior to the workshop. No prior experience in R Markdown or IHME is required.