Overview:

The Research Seminar on Cycling Data Analysis with R is aimed at students who want to work with data but do not yet have extensive experience in conducting independent empirical analyses. As part of the seminar, students learn the fundamentals of scientific empirical research. The seminar demonstrates which datasets are available, how data can be prepared effectively for an empirical analysis, and how such an analysis can be carried out. As an examination, students are expected to write a seminar paper in which bicycle traffic data for a selected city are analyzed empirically.

Block sessions:

At the beginning, four block sessions will take place. During these sessions, various traffic datasets will be introduced, and it will be explained which research questions can be answered using which dataset. Subsequently, the focus will be on a dataset from automated bicycle counting stations in Münster. It will be shown how these panel data can be prepared for an empirical analysis and how the data from bicycle counting station can be linked with potential explanatory variables (e.g. weather, school holidays, etc.). Based on the prepared dataset, initial descriptive analyses will be conducted, followed by an empirical analysis of the dataset. The primary software used will be R. Basic empirical knowledge is recommended (e.g. having taken the compulsory course Empirical Methods).

The block sessions are structured such that (theoretical) background information on the individual steps is presented first. Subsequently, the individual steps are carried out in R and directly replicated by the students on their own computers using data from the bicycle counting stations in Münster. Due to the application-oriented design of the block sessions, students are thus taught fundamental skills for creating their own publications.

 

Seminar paper:

Following the block sessions, students are required to conduct an independent empirical study based on the content taught and document it in the form of a 15-page seminar paper. While an overview of the relevant academic literature should also be provided, the focus is on data preparation and the analysis of bicycle traffic data for a selected city.

Since data acquisition is an essential component of empirical research, this step also plays an important role in the seminar. After the information session, students may choose a city they wish to analyze. Only two conditions apply to the selection of this city: the city must have at least one bicycle counting station with hourly data for at least one year, and the city must not be Münster. The data from the bicycle counting stations of this city must then be obtained independently by the students. Experience shows that this is usually quite feasible (sometimes the data are already published online; in many cities, contact persons are pleased when someone takes an interest in the data and therefore are happy to provide them).

 

Dates:

• Monday, August 10, 2026

Registration:

For didactic reasons, participation in the Research Seminar on Cycling Data Analysis with R is limited to 15 students. 

Registration with the institute is required for the course. This can be done immediately via email by providing last name, first name, matriculation number, and a brief self-assessment of R skills to Jan Wessel (jan.wessel@uni-muenster.de). Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis..

In addition, registration with the examination office is required (MWP25 or MWP24 according to the “Module Handbook Economics PO 2015”; or as MWP28–MWP33 according to the “Module Handbook (valid from WS 18/19)”). Please note the corresponding early registration deadline.