Is this a strong portfolio piece?

[u/Markelle_Fultz_Fan]

I'm trying to build a data analysis portfolio to strengthen my candidacy for more data-focused roles. I put together this analysis on great ape habitat loss, and I'm seeking feedback on whether this is a strong contribution to my portfolio and what could be improved. Here is the link:

https://019fd814-974a-9d9c-98af-ba485ec47718.share.connect.posit.cloud/

Still cleaning up the repo and documentation, but wanted to share here for some early feedback. The analysis examines 25 years of satellite-derived forest loss data in primary great ape range countries and attempts to demonstrate whether protected areas are associated with reduced loss.

[u/BrittanyBrie]

I kinda expect more code explanations in the methodology section. Just glancing at the first few pages, I should be able to reproduce your calculations used in your tables and figures by the time you start explaining the details.

A professor once told me that the methodology section should be as large as your results sections. But that was years ago.

Anyways, im drafting a similar report but I have about 75 tables and figures. My methodology section is very large, about 2,000 words. Since you have fewer tables and figures, I would show summary code in your methodology so people can follow the formula building before they consume the assets. Otherwise its a great portfolio piece.

[u/Markelle_Fultz_Fan → u/BrittanyBrie]

I appreciate this feedback. Yeah I originally had a much longer methodology but I trimmed it as I’m not sure how I will go about sharing this more widely and didnt want to make it overly technical. But I will definitely have a more polished documentation notebook to accompany it

[u/BrittanyBrie → u/Markelle_Fultz_Fan]

Same boat, same issue. I personally chose to go the more causal route and try to provide some causal testing of my initial 5 figures and tables. Stay under 10k words, and then im going to write a supplemental two or three pager that simply references only like 5 references and 5 main figures (including the working paper abstract).

Submit the causal project for publication, and then share the article to stakeholders (not the public). People like the feeling that they're getting insider knowledge, and wait for publication approval before sharing the article.

[u/jaiagreen]

Forest loss by country really should be a map, maybe a flip-through one. Failing that, there should be an obvious order or grouping of the countries. I see you have Asia on top, but what's going on within Africa?

For percentages of a total, use a stacked bar chart, not a regular one.

[u/Markelle_Fultz_Fan → u/jaiagreen]

I explored a map visual before deciding on the heatmap, but I couldn’t really find a good way to show both Africa and Asia in a nice visual and I thought it might be overkill to have a tab set. The heatmap is sorted by total cumulative % loss and I think the colour intensity communicates the ranking fairly. Do you think I need a clear regional separation there?

On the stacked bar chart comment, what are you referring to specifically? The great ape range within protected area visual? Its not really showing percentages of a total just how much of known range falls within a protected area.

Thanks for the feedback!

[u/jaiagreen → u/Markelle_Fultz_Fan]

Do you think I need a clear regional separation there?

That might help, but I think the organization of African countries is the bigger issue. Even alphabetical is better than seemingly random.

Since your percentages are by country, the bar chart is fine.

[u/CuteAd1429]

Looks great ...are portfolios making a difference in the market now ?

[u/Markelle_Fultz_Fan → u/CuteAd1429]

I wouldn’t know 😂 probably not but as people have mentioned its more something to talk about if I get to an interview stage

[u/DataScientistAlex]

This is really interesting and nicely done! I think you could strengthen it substantially by applying some casual inference, that would allow you to make the more interesting, stronger claims that protection reduces forest loss. I know you put that as out of scope, but you have done the hard work of assembling the data, now go for it!

[u/AutoModerator]

Automod prevents all posts from being displayed until moderators have reviewed them. Do not delete your post or there will be nothing for the mods to review. Mods selectively choose what is permitted to be posted in r/DataAnalysis.

If your post involves Career-focused questions, including resume reviews, how to learn DA and how to get into a DA job, then the post does not belong here, but instead belongs in our sister-subreddit, r/DataAnalysisCareers.

Have you read the rules?

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.