Published on: 9 May 2023 | Last updated: 1 November 2023
Because of the many applications of ACLED data, there is no ‘best way’ to analyze or use the data. ACLED’s own analysis publications provide a range of examples. A common and easily accessible way of analyzing ACLED data is using a spreadsheet program like MS Excel and transforming the data using a pivot table. This way, event data can be filtered for an actor or country, collated by year or month, and specified by event type – a common starting point for exploring the data.
Beyond spreadsheet programs, GIS software like QGIS or ArcGIS are often used to map events and their properties using the provided coordinates for geospatial analysis. Tableau is frequently used to create engaging visualizations, including graphs and maps.
While there is no ‘best way’ to analyze ACLED data, there are incorrect ways. For example, assuming the Actor1 is the perpetrator would be a misinterpretation. We stress that it is necessary to read our methodology thoroughly to understand ACLED variables and the inferences that can (and cannot) be drawn from them. The ACLED team is happy to assist with cases that are not evident from our methodology documentation. You can reach out with your question or potential use case to [email protected].
