Our Approach

At 1930 Research LLC, we collaborate closely with clients—many of whom are subject matter experts but not data specialists—to transform their crime data into reliable, actionable information through a comprehensive, tailored process that supports their unique goals. We often start with a data audit to evaluate the quality and completeness of our clients datasets before beginning cleaning or analysis.

  1. Understanding Your Goals and Intended Uses

    Before any data work begins, we work with you to understand your objectives and how you plan to use the data. While many data cleaning and processing steps are consistent across projects, knowing your specific goals helps us tailor our approach to meet your needs precisely.

  2. Exploring and Cleaning the Data

    Crime data is often inconsistent, poorly documented, and difficult to work with. We have extensive experience transforming these datasets into clean, structured formats that support meaningful analysis and reporting. This includes identifying missing values, standardizing codes, creating practical data categories, merging multiple sources, and reshaping data into usable formats. For recurring reports and workflows, we build reproducible scripts and automated processes, delivering code and documentation so your team can maintain them independently.

    If we determine that certain data isn’t reliable enough for your needs, we’ll tell you upfront. This transparency helps you avoid wasted time and focus on insights you can trust.

  3. Visualization, Reporting, and Automation

    Clear communication is essential. We create visualizations including graphs, maps, tables, as we;; as written reports that describe the structure of the original data, documenting the steps taken to clean and prepare it, and summarizing key findings. We tailor outputs to your audience and goals, helping you select the most effective formats. Each deliverable is clearly labeled, easy to interpret, and well documented.

    For recurring reporting needs, we develop automated processes using reproducible scripts, delivering code and documentation so your team can generate consistent reports independently. Our reporting tools support internal decision-making, public transparency, grant compliance, and external review.

  4. Analysis

    While we do not focus primarily on statistical modeling, we support clients who need basic descriptive summaries or comparisons across time and groups. In these cases, we prioritize clarity, transparency, and alignment with what the data can reliably show. Our work is always grounded in realistic expectations and avoids overstating what the data supports.

  5. Transparency, Documentation, and Security

    Throughout every step, we maintain transparent communication and provide thorough documentation, including R code when applicable, to empower your team to verify methods and reproduce results. Your data’s security is paramount; we adhere to strict encryption standards and offer Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) for sensitive projects.

    By following this process, we transform your data into a powerful asset that drives informed decisions, enhances operations, and achieves your strategic goals.

For a formal summary of our capabilities and past performance, download our Capability Statement.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your data? Contact us for a consultation or data audit to discuss your project and how we can help.