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Data Analysis Guidelines

Data analysis is an important part of the basis of scientific research in particle physics and high-energy physics. Through the open data initiative, the ATLAS Collaboration aims to provide an opportunity for people, from researches to general public, to engage with real data measurements taken by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The idea of this section is to guide users through the steps and methodologies for analyzing the public data from ATLAS. We will explore software and tools, outline basic analysis steps, and dive into more advanced techniques, so that everyone has a place to start.

Software and Tools​

In ATLAS, we have designed software and tools specifically for the interpretation and transformation of the datasets generated by the detector. Hence, understanding the software is a key element when approaching these data. In the following sub-sections, we will provide information to help you understan ROOT, a framework for data analysis and processing, and the ATLAS analysis software, to facilitate the journey through the data.

Basic Data Analysis​

In this section we will also provide information on the basic of data analysis, which will serve as a start for those new to particle physics or if you are looking to refresh your knowledge. This includes, but is not limited, to information on how to access the data, how to filter it, event selection, and how to perform a basic statistical analysis. These skill are necessary to understand and draw conclusions from the data. From beginners to advanced, these basics are important to use the data meaningfully.

Advanced Analysis Techniques​

Beyond the basic information, we want researchers to be able to dive into more advanced techniques to answer more complex questions. Weather this means probing properties of the Higgs boson, searching for new particles, or exploring new frontiers of the Standard Model, this section will provide guidance on more advance statistical methods, machine learning applications, and the use of more advanced tools, unveiling the potential of the open data.

Tailoring Analysis to Your Needs​

As stated above, we recognize the need of diverse users interested in particle physics research for different reasons. For that reason, we are fostering resources ton cater to multiple levels of interest and expertise. Wether you are teaching a high school class, learning particle physics for fun, working on a master's thesis or doing research, the guidelines presented in this section will help you navigate the challenges of analyzing the data, so that you can make the most of the open data.