[Events] Statistical Consulting Unit (SCU)-Research Methodology and Statistical Courses

Thu May 6 09:47:09 IST 2010

Statistical Consulting Unit (SCU)

Research Methodology and Statistical Courses 

Further quantitative methods courses are being offered by the
Statistical Consulting Unit(SCU)in May 2010 to staff and post-graduate
students at UL. The course list and dates are as below. 

These courses can be taken in any combination depending on your
requirements. Please note that courses 4 and 5 are the same therefore
only one of these days should be enrolled for. Also you should only
enrol on course 3 if you are also attending course 2 or have done so in
a previous session. Please email anne.odwyer at ul.ie
<mailto:anne.odwyer at ul.ie>  to enrol.

All of the courses are stand alone and can therefore be taken on their
own.

All courses will run between 9:30 and 4:30 on each day with breaks for
lunch and tea/coffee (which will be provided). There will be a limit on
the number of attendees for each of these courses so early registration
would be advisable. You will be provided with a full set of course notes
for each course. No reminders will be sent to you so please make a note
of date and venue when you enrol.

People should only enrol if they will definitely be attending as
otherwise they are preventing other people from enrolling.

Full Course List

Research Methodology and Statistical Courses offered by the SCU 

(May 2010)

1. Questionnaire Design (Monday 24/05/10)

Duration:           1 day      

This introductory course covers the basic elements of questionnaire
design and question wording. The different requirements for postal and
interview questionnaires will be emphasised and practical exercises will
be given in question wording. Various modes of presentation will be
described. Some suggestions for ways of improving response rates will
also be given. 

Venue: John Holland Lecture Theatre in the main building (D1050).

2. Introduction to NVIVO (Qualitative data Analysis) 

(Wednesday 26/05/10)

Duration: 1 day

Presented by Ben Meehan (Digital Courseware)

The objective of the course is to equip the group with enough knowledge
to enable people to begin their project using a computer-aided
methodology. By the end of the workshop they will understand the
advantages and limitations of using a computer for qualitative data
analyses and will know how to set-up a database, how to import data and
how to code data. They will also understand the potential of NVivo as a
tool for organising, questioning and reporting on the data so that they
can truly support and defend their findings. 

The depth and breadth to which these topics will be covered covered will
depend on the general level of computer literacy of the group coupled
with their experience, if any, of using databases designed for working
with qualitative or unstructured data. Participants are encouraged to
bring their own data if they have some. Otherwise, tutorial data will be
provided on the day.

(For further information on course  please contact Dr Jean Saunders (
jean.saunders at ul.ie <mailto:jean.saunders at ul.ie> ))

Venue: Maths Lab in the main building (C2062).

3. Analysing your data with NVIVO (Qualitative data Analysis) 

(Thursday 27/05/10)

Duration: 1 day

Presented by Ben Meehan (Digital Courseware)

YOU SHOULD ONLY ENROL ON THIS DAY COURSE IF YOU HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED
AN INTRODUCTORY NVIVO DAY COURSE (As in course 2 above)

Course contents:Data Analysis:

It is compulsory for you to have completed day one (course 2) in order
to be able to participate in day two (course 3) OR to be an experienced
Nvivo user. The objective of this workshop is to conduct a piece of
analysis using raw data and a research question. By the end of the
session, the participants will have:

1. Set up a database with a robust architecture

2. Analysed the data using queries and manual analysis where appropriate

3. Reported on the findings

(For further information on either course  please contact Dr Jean
Saunders (jean.saunders at ul.ie))

Venue: Maths Lab in the main building (C2062).

4. Introductory SPSS (Friday 28/05/10)

Duration:         1 day   

This course provides an intensive introduction to SPSS.  It assumes that
participants will have a basic familiarity with the Windows environment.
We will examine the features of SPSS for Windows, use a simple data set
to cover the topics of transforming variables, selecting data for
analysis, then perform basic analyses to produce frequency
distributions, summary statistics and cross tabulations before examining
some of the extensive graphic capabilities of SPSS. This course would
provide an introduction to anyone wishing to analyse their own data
using SPSS.

Venue: Maths Lab in the main building (C2062). 

5.  Introductory SPSS (Monday 31/05/10)

Duration:         1 day   

(NOTE: This course is a repeat of course 4 - please enrol on only one of
these day courses i.e. 4 or 5)

This course provides an intensive introduction to SPSS.  It assumes that
participants will have a basic familiarity with the Windows environment.
We will examine the features of SPSS for Windows, use a simple data set
to cover the topics of transforming variables, selecting data for
analysis, then perform basic analyses to produce frequency
distributions, summary statistics and cross tabulations before examining
some of the extensive graphic capabilities of SPSS. This course would
provide an introduction to anyone wishing to analyse their own data
using SPSS.

Venue: Maths Lab in the main building (C2062). 

6. Basic Statistics for Researchers 

(Tuesday 01/06/10 & Thursday 03/06/10)

Duration:          2 days

A Basic Statistics course covering the basic methods of analysis needed
for quantitative research. Most researchers would find the material
covered would be sufficient to analyse any data gathered as part of
their research (both categorical/qualitative and continuous/scalar/ratio
variables). A mix of practice and theory. No prior knowledge of
statistics is assumed although you will require a basic knowledge of
using SPSS and/or other statistical software packages (e.g. attendance
at course 4 or 5 would be sufficient). The course examples will be
mainly using data from the sciences or medical fields but others should
also find the course useful. Subjects covered include:

Sampling

Data analysis - an overview; Types of data; Scales of data measurement;
Coding questionnaire data

Describing data using graphical and numerical methods

Normal Probability distributions

Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing (Parametric and
non-parametric)

Multivariable analysis - Categorical variables - Chi-squared Tests

Multivariable analysis - Quantitative (continuous) variables - Scatter
plots, correlation and regression.

Venue: Maths Lab in the main building (C2062).

7. Investigating and Exploring Relationships (Friday 04/06/2010)

Duration:         1 day   

The course will demonstrate how to explore relationships between
continuous/scalar/ratio variables using scatter plots, correlation and
simple bivariate regression analysis. We will then cover multivariate
regression analyses and logistic regression models which can also
incorporate categorical/binary variables. There will be a high practical
component with examples based on data provided for the course. Theory
will be kept to a minimum. It is an extension on the later material
covered in course 6. 

Venue: Maths Lab in the main building (C2062).

To register for the above courses, please e-mail anne.odwyer at ul.ie
stating course title and date. No reminders will be sent to you so
please make a note of date and venue when you enrol.

For further information on any of these courses please contact:

Dr Jean Saunders 
Executive Director 
Statistical Consulting Unit/CSTAR
GEMS & Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Limerick 
Tel: 00353-61-213471 
Mob: 00353-86-3866353 
Fax: 00353-61-334927 
email: jean.saunders at ul.ie

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