Mining text data for useful information

Abstract

Text mining presents an efficient way to access the extensive amount of data found in written records by converting words into numbers and using algorithms to detect relevant patterns. This presentation focuses on the fundamentals of text mining, including an overview of key concepts, prevalent methodologies, and popular software packages. The utility of text mining is demonstrated through two examples: (1) using text to create a learning analytics system at a premier community college (CUNY Guttman), and (2) refining survey items on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).