Using, interpreting, and understanding data is increasingly important for understanding the world. This course provides an introduction to data analysis, discussing how social scientists quantify key concepts, test theories using empirical data, and evaluate policy effectiveness. Students will learn basic statistical methods and data analysis techniques, including how to clean, visualize, and analyze data using statistical programming packages. The course will also focus on interpreting data and communicating about it effectively to various audiences. We will develop these skills by discussing a range of topics, including poverty and inequality, macroeconomic growth, health, and education. Open only to first year frosh.