To start, note that not all “data analysis” is a big project. Sometimes it’s just getting some basic numbers and using formulas you learned in high school. A few of the resources below will help you remember those, and others will show you how to go deeper.
Created by Minneapolis Star-Tribune data journalist educator MaryJo Webster (who also teaches at Univ. of Minnesota) has created an extensive collection of video-based exercises, as well as some higher level things like getting into a “Data State of Mind”. She starts with Excel, but also gets into R, a more powerful statistical programming environment (see below)
Created by Washington Post data journalist Andrew Ba Tran, this resource provides a thorough introduction to the R statistical programming system targeted at journalists.
Created by LA Times data journalist and editor Ben Welsh, this exercise introduces you to the core tools for using python for data analysis. There’s also a video (~2 hours) of a live session Ben conducted walking people through the exercise.
Reporting with numbers for journalists
A slide deck from an experienced data journalist which might be a good starting place for beginners.
Resources for Learning Sports Analytics Coding
Sports Data Analysis and Visualization
This book is the collection of class materials for the author’s Sports Data Analysis and Visualization class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications.