Common questions about the ISYE 6414 Final Project.
A data source is the organization or entity that publishes the data. Multiple datasets from the same organization (e.g., several CSV files from the Bureau of Labor Statistics) count as only 1 data source. You need datasets from at least 3 different organizations.
Your group needs at least 3 datasets from at least 3 different data sources, joined together into one combined dataset. Multiple datasets from the same organization count as only 1 source, and at least one dataset should have 10,000+ rows (your "core" dataset). This is a group-level requirement — you assemble and analyze the combined data as a team.
No. Only peer-reviewed journal articles count toward the 20-source minimum. You may cite books, websites, and other sources if useful, but they do not count toward the 20.
Use Georgia Tech's library databases. Go to library.gatech.edu and use databases like JSTOR, Web of Science, or Google Scholar (accessed through GT proxy). Filter results to "peer-reviewed" or "scholarly" sources.
Yes — that's the point! It will probably need to be expanded to reach the page-limit requirement, and it must read as a coherent narrative (flowing prose, not a collection of summaries with section headers).
Exactly 5 graphics. Not 4, not 6. Each graphic must be referenced and discussed in your report text.
The Final Report should be 10-20 pages. This excludes the title page, references, and any appendices. Falling short of or exceeding the range incurs a grade penalty. See the full rubric on the Final Report Guide.
No. Do not include code in your Final Report. Code belongs in your group repository (we will download it from there!). The Final Report should read like a professional research paper.
Use Python, R, or both — whatever fits your analysis. Your code must be well-commented and runnable.
Kind of.
You do need to upload your code to your group repository. We'll check it to confirm it matches the work described in your Final Report and that all appropriate steps were performed, but no individual grade is associated with it. If your work is severely lacking, however, we will apply a deduction to your group's Final Report grade.
LaTeX produces professional-quality academic papers with proper two-column layouts, figure placement, and citation formatting. It's the standard in academic publishing.
Get the Template
We use APA style for both in-text citations and your References section, but the required LaTeX template already includes a citation package that handles most of this for you.