EPOCH Tutorials - Preparing and Cleaning Data for Historical Research with Microsoft Excel

Moore, Edward (2024) EPOCH Tutorials - Preparing and Cleaning Data for Historical Research with Microsoft Excel. EPOCH Magazine, 16.

Abstract

This tutorial provides a practical guide to preparing and cleaning data for historical research using Microsoft Excel. As historical datasets often come in unstructured or inconsistent formats, the article outlines essential techniques to organise, standardise, and refine data for analysis. Key topics include removing duplicates, correcting inconsistencies, splitting and merging cells, and formatting data to ensure accuracy and reliability. Researchers can efficiently transform raw data into a coherent and usable dataset by leveraging Excel’s built-in tools, such as filters, conditional formatting, and formulae. The article also emphasises the importance of maintaining data integrity and reproducibility throughout the cleaning process. Whether you are a historian, student, or researcher, this tutorial equips you with the skills to streamline your data preparation workflow, enabling more effective and insightful historical analysis.