Using APIs in Research

Section outline

• Course Overview

  Course Overview

  This practical course takes you through the process of selecting an appropriate API, using a client to collect data, and preprocessing data ahead of analysis. Knowledge of languages isn’t required, but additional activities are provided if you’re proficient in Python or R. 

  Learning Outcomes

  This course will help you to:

  1. Describe different API protocols, architectures, and access methods 
  2. Identify the technical information you need to use an API 
  3. Practice making API calls using different clients 
  4. Apply the necessary data preprocessing steps ahead of analysis 
• Course Instructor: Dr. Nicola Thomas

  Course Instructor: Dr. Nicola Thomas

  • Dr. Nicola Thomas

    Dr. Nicola Thomas is the Director of Disco Analytics, a global learning insights agency. Nicola works with a range of enterprises, large and small, and uses both quantitative and qualitative research to generate valuable insights. Prior to founding Disco Analytics, Nicola was an Associate Professor in Marketing at De Montfort University. Nicola taught several research-oriented modules, including dissertations and research projects, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Given her PhD, awarded 20 years ago, was transdisciplinary, much of her work, past and present, involves systems thinking. Her research work has been applied to various contexts, including sustainability in the global fashion industry, using social media data to discover customer insights, investigating the potential of behavioral change to increase ecosystem health, and more recently, exploring the causal links between learning and development with organizational performance and employee engagement.

    View Bio for Dr. Nicola Thomas
• Pre-Course Self Assessment

  Pre-Course Self Assessment

  Before you dive into this course, spend a few moments reflecting on your familiarity with the topic and your current level of skills confidence.

  You will then re-visit the same questions in our Post-Course Self Assessment and reflect on how the course has helped you develop in confidence and grow your skills.
• Module One: The Research Values of APIs

  Module One: The Research Values of APIs

  

  This module will help you to: 

  1. Determine how APIs can fulfill different research aim
  2. Recognize the anatomy of an API call 
  3. Identify different API protocols, architectures, and access methods 
• Module Two: Making Sense of API Documentation

  Module Two: Making Sense of API Documentation

  

  This module will help you to: 

  1. Appreciate the importance of API documentation 
  2. Read an API’s documentation effectively   
  3. Identify the technical information you need to use an API 
• Module Three: Using APIs Via Different Clients

  Module Three: Using APIs Via Different Clients

  

  This module will help you to: 

  1. Create a Postman account to practice your skills 
  2. Generate and analyze a variety of API calls  
  3. Practice making API calls using different clients  
• Module Four: Getting Your Data Ready for Analysis

  Module Four: Getting Your Data Ready for Analysis

  

  This module will help you to: 

  1. Apply the necessary data preprocessing steps
  2. Determine how to validate JSON data 
  3. Flatten nested JSON data to allow for data analysis 
• References and Glossary of Key Terms

  References and Glossary of Key Terms

  In addition to the glossary you’ll find woven throughout the course, you can find the full glossary collated in one place here.
• Post-Course Self Assessment

  Post-Course Self Assessment

  Now you’ve completed the course, spend a few moments reflecting on where your familiarity with the topics and your confidence skills levels are at now. 

  Has the course helped you develop new skills and grow your confidence?

  You'll need to complete the Post-Course Self Assessment in order to download your certificate. If you didn't do the Pre-Course Self Assessment before starting the course, please go to the top of the page and reflect on your familiarity with the topic and your level of skills confidence before you started the course.
• Completion: Certificate

  Completion: Certificate

  Completing all modules (plus the pre and post-course assessments) will unlock the course certificate, which you can then download here. Your course certificate will only be made available once you have completed all these sections.

  If you have difficulty accessing your certificate, please contact the Sage support team at: onlinesupport@sagepub.co.uk. You can also check out this FAQ page which may be helpful.
• Give Feedback About This Course

  Give Feedback About This Course

  Did you enjoy the course? Please take two minutes to share your feedback. We use learner feedback in future course updates and developments to provide an excellent learning experience.
• Accessibility

  Accessibility

  We have high standards of accessibility on Sage Campus and as of May/June 2024 all activities within this course are keyboard and screen reader compatible. For more details on accessibility standards, please see the Sage Campus Accessibility Guide.

  For those using assistive technology, please note that within this course:

  • Tab components: JAWS and NVDA behave slightly differently. For NVDA to keep reading, it is best to exit focus mode and go back to browse mode. 
  • Matching: JAWS does not read out question label on dropdown focus.