The Constellate platform provides streamlined routines for text analysis of content from the JSTOR and Portico holdings that require no technical background from the user. You build a dataset much like conducting a search on JSTOR and then navigate to different interactive “notebooks” for analysis. While the notebooks are written in Python code, extensive explanations simplify the coding experience down to basically filling in the blanks in accordance with the provided instructions. As you spend more time (and effort) on the platform, Constellate’s guidance and tutorials will further enable you to tailor the code closer to your specific needs and to perform more complex analysis.

There are no prerequisites, but participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own laptop to the session. Background in programming, especially with Python, or in the conceptual side of text mining, will make for an easier experience, but neither will be required or expected.