Searching and filtering a data repository

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. You need a dataset you can open straight in a spreadsheet. Which repository search filter helps most?

A File format filter set to CSV

B Topic filter set to a broad subject like 'all data'

2. Your research question is about rainfall in 2023 only. Which filter should you apply?

A Date range: all years available

B Date range: 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Dec 2023

3. What is the main purpose of a search filter in a data repository?

A To narrow results so you find only the data you need

B To make a dataset more accurate after you download it

4. A dataset looks perfect in the search results. What should you do before you download it?

A Check the metadata, such as the date, source and format

B Download it first and check the details later

5. Which piece of metadata tells you how current a dataset is?

A The file size

B The date last updated

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1format = CSV		AA date filter that keeps only datasets published or covering the years 2020 to 2024, so the data is recent enough to be useful.
2date_range = 2020-2024		BThe date filter is set to an old year, so the results will be outdated. It should use a recent date range, and the metadata should be checked.
3Before downloading, check the metadata to confirm the publisher, last updated date and licence of the dataset.		Ctopic = Transport AND format = CSV AND year >= 2022
4Combine several search filters at once so only data matching your topic, date range and file format is returned.		DA PDF is not a structured data format, so it is hard to import into a spreadsheet. The format filter should be set to CSV or XLSX.
5Search: rainfall \| Filter: format = PDF \| Goal: import into a spreadsheet		Eview_metadata(dataset) -> updated: 2024-06-30
6Search: school enrolments \| Filter: date = 1995 \| Need: current data		FA file format filter that shows only datasets available as CSV files, which are easy to open in a spreadsheet or database.

Definitions

search filter

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

SEARCH topic = "rainfall" ______ format = "CSV" DOWNLOAD results

SEARCH topic = "rainfall" FILTER ______ = "CSV" DOWNLOAD results

SEARCH topic = "transport" FILTER year __ 2023 DOWNLOAD results

OPEN dataset VIEW ________ DOWNLOAD dataset

SEARCH topic = "rainfall" FILTER format = "CSV" ___ year >= 2023 DOWNLOAD results

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A // Goal: rainfall data, CSV

B FILTER topic = 'Rainfall'

C FILTER format = 'PDF'

D SHOW results

Question 2

A SEARCH 'school enrolments'

B FILTER topic = 'Education'

C FILTER format = 'CSV'

D FILTER date FROM 2024 TO 2020

E SHOW results

Question 3

A OPEN dataset 'Bus Delays'

B SKIP metadata

C CHECK licence, date, format

D DOWNLOAD dataset

Question 4

A SEARCH 'air quality'

B FILTER format = 'CSV'

C FILTER date FROM 2023 TO 2024

D CHECK metadata AFTER download

E DOWNLOAD file

Question 5

A SEARCH 'bushfire history'

B FILTER topic = 'Floods'

C FILTER format = 'CSV'

D DOWNLOAD file

Answer Key

Searching and filtering a data repository

Section A: Quick Questions

A — File format filter set to CSV

B — Date range: 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Dec 2023

A — To narrow results so you find only the data you need

A — Check the metadata, such as the date, source and format

B — The date last updated

Section B: Match the Pairs

format = CSV → A file format filter that shows only datasets available as CSV files, which are easy to open in a spreadsheet or database.

date_range = 2020-2024 → A date filter that keeps only datasets published or covering the years 2020 to 2024, so the data is recent enough to be useful.

Before downloading, check the metadata to confirm the publisher, last updated date and licence of the dataset. → view_metadata(dataset) -> updated: 2024-06-30

Combine several search filters at once so only data matching your topic, date range and file format is returned. → topic = Transport AND format = CSV AND year >= 2022

Search: rainfall | Filter: format = PDF | Goal: import into a spreadsheet → A PDF is not a structured data format, so it is hard to import into a spreadsheet. The format filter should be set to CSV or XLSX.

Search: school enrolments | Filter: date = 1995 | Need: current data → The date filter is set to an old year, so the results will be outdated. It should use a recent date range, and the metadata should be checked.

Section C: Definitions

search filter — A setting in a data repository, such as topic, date range or file format, that narrows the results so you find and download only the data you need. Check the metadata first.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

SEARCH topic = "rainfall"
FILTER format = "CSV"
DOWNLOAD results

SEARCH topic = "rainfall"
FILTER format = "CSV"
DOWNLOAD results

SEARCH topic = "transport"
FILTER year >= 2023
DOWNLOAD results

OPEN dataset
VIEW metadata
DOWNLOAD dataset

SEARCH topic = "rainfall"
FILTER format = "CSV" AND year >= 2023
DOWNLOAD results

Section E: Spot the Error

C — The goal is CSV data that can be imported and analysed. The file format filter should be 'CSV', because PDF tables can't be imported easily.

D — The date range is backwards, so the start date is after the end date and no results will match. It should be FROM 2020 TO 2024.

B — Metadata must be viewed before downloading to check the date, format and licence. The line should be VIEW metadata, not skip it.

D — Metadata should be checked before downloading so you know the dataset is suitable. Checking after means you may have downloaded the wrong file. It should say BEFORE.

B — The search is about bushfire history, so the topic filter should be 'Bushfires'. Filtering by 'Floods' would hide the data you need.