data_flow.md

Data Flow Documentation

This file explains the typical flow of data through the InsightStack toolkit.

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🔄 Typical Workflow

1. Raw Data Entry

   • Source: XLSForms, field surveys, or CSV files
   • Tools: survey_to_codebook/, data_validation/

2. Data Validation

   • Scripts flag:
     • Missing values
     • Duplicates
     • Out-of-range values
   • Folder: data_validation/

3. Variable Labeling

   • Apply readable labels from a dictionary
   • Folder: label_variables/
   • Compatible across R, Python, and Stata

4. Exploration & Analysis

   • Summary stats, regressions, and model testing
   • Folder: replication/
   • Can use Stata, R, or Python

5. Documentation

   • Convert survey design into Markdown codebooks
   • Folder: survey_to_codebook/

6. Archival & Replication

   • Reusable scripts, testable results, and cleaned data
   • Folder: replication/, with output storage

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Each folder in InsightStack corresponds to one or more of these steps — allowing any user to jump in, adapt, or expand the workflow for their own context.