about dataspark

We don’t consider our projects a success unless they are used by our clients to inform a decision or tell their story. We collaborate throughout the project from initial concept to final publication. 

 We are flexible in our approach because we know the high demands and fast-pace of working in a government setting. 

We leverage emerging technologies to make data accessible and engaging to our audiences. In addition to traditional long-form reports, we create dashboards,  data stories, and maps. 

As a program unit of URI Libraries, we belong to a community joined in a common quest for knowledge. We work together for the common good, transforming data into knowledge and learning into action. 

 Impact is only as strong as the data that drives it. We believe that having accurate data is essential to our mission, credibility and the success of our clients and partnerships.

We continuously strive to democratize data while maintaining the highest standards of data privacy. The ethical, responsible,  and secure use of data is core to all that we do.

We examine data to discover trends and findings that are useful to decision makers and the general public. Our services include processing large datasets, linking different sources of data together and transforming data into descriptive statistics and information products. 

We make data easy to understand through the creation of visualizations. These products are designed to communicate information visually, to make complex datasets coherent at a glance and to reveal details and/or comparisons that provide insight into key issues. These products are designed to improve knowledge and promote evidence-based action. 

Whether they are static or interactive, maps can tell a story that goes beyond the presentation of traditional graphs and charts.  Mapping allows for the display and overlay of numerous variables and provides a geographic context that is essential to formulating strategy within a population or target area.

 We collaborate with researchers, leveraging the RI SLDS and our analytic capacity, to develop knowledge about what works and to improve outcomes for individuals and communities. Researchers can conduct secondary analysis of existing data as well as collect new data that leverages our existing holdings. 

We publish a variety of products (data stories, issue briefs, infographics, and reports) that shine a light on critical policy issues. Our process includes a rigorous examination of historical data as well as focused engagement of key stakeholders about what steps are needed to improve future decision-making. 

We operate web-based tools that democratize data and increase access to information. Online applications improve data access for decision makers, stakeholders and the general public.