Process

To start using Rmonize, install the package and see a simple example of processing.

Processing data using Rmonize depends on three user-provided input elements:

• The DataSchema is the list of variables to be generated, or harmonized, across the input datasets. For use in Rmonize, a document with a specific format is typically prepared in an Excel template (coming soon) minimally including information about the variable names, labels, data types, and categories.
• The input datasets are the datasets collected by the participating studies or initiatives. Rmonize provides functions to evaluate, summarize, and format input datasets and associated data dictionaries for use in the package.
• The Data Processing Elements (DPE) specifies the input elements and instructions for Rmonize to generate harmonized outputs from each input dataset. The DPE has a specific technical format and is also typically prepared in an Excel template (coming soon) and includes columns detailing the possibility (or not) to generate each DataSchema variable in each dataset and the algorithms defined to process data.

Rmonize uses the input datasets, DataSchema, and Data Processing Elements to process input into harmonized datasets. The package also helps generate reports useful to explore harmonized data content.

Rmonize helps generate distinct or pooled datasets and associated data dictionaries integrating information from the DataSchema and Data Processing Elements. The package also enables generating reports including descriptive statistics for harmonized datasets.