Principles

• Always work from a folder where your work automatically backs up.

  • Dropbox, Drive, many others

• Have analysis files integrated with writing files

  • Rmd fabulous for this
  • Set it up so that you can quickly do reality checks on data and analysis

• Be able to replicate all data work and analysis with one click

• Outsource formatting.

  • e.g. tex and .Rmd autimatically format. If you use Word, use their “Styles”
  • Bibliographies: use bibtex or similar. Keep a file and reference like this @putnam2000bowling (in Rmd) which produces Putnam (2000) and handles the formatting. Other tools work similarly. Don’t do this by hand.

Folders and files.

• Have all files: writing, files, data files, additional analysis files or images, etc in a single directory with relative references

  • Number your folders.
  • Have few files in each folder.
  • I label files with date: 20201005_paper.Rmd
  • Compile regularly and have a readable compiled file beside your work file
  • Keep your main document clean and source in sections/modules; you can turn off sourcing if some segments are giving trouble (see sourcing in the file 1../2_2../Lecture.Rmd)
  • Have an archive folder 0_archive and backup old copies regularly (not so important if you have good versioning)

Tasks

• Keep a to do list
• If you use github it is great to use “issues” to keep track of to dos
• Try to complete well defined tasks in one sitting. Work in chunk.
• If you have a repetitive task there is probably a way to automate it: ask for help
• If you have a conceptually hard task that you are not making progress on, stop, move away, and try it from a whole new angle
• Order your tasks: figure out whether you work better linearly or doing parallel work.
• Cross off tasks when done
• Don’t be afraid to discard work
• Be ambitious but don’t let the best be the enemy of the good.

References

Putnam, Robert D. 2000. “Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital.” In Culture and Politics, 223–34. Springer.