Getting Started with HLM 6

This tutorial will explore the basic concepts involved in applying hierarchical linear modeling using HLM 6. Particular focus will be placed on understanding how heteroskedastic errors may occur when using ordinary least squares for analysis, and how the method of mixed modeling may be able to account for this problem in the social sciences using HLM 6. We will cover the creation of a multivariate data matrix (mdm) file using the software, and proceed to generating results for a null model along with calculating the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient.

July 9, 2009  2:00 – 3:30  O’Neill 245

Introduction to Linux

Linux is one of the most popular operating systems on supercomputers. This tutorial give an overview of Unix/Linux. This tutorial will use Boston College's new Linux Cluster for specific examples of how to use Linux. Topics covered include:

•  Remote login to the Linux Cluster
• An overview of basic Unix/Linux commands
• Editiors: vi and emacs

August 4, 2009   1:30 – 3:30 pm O’Neill 245

Introduction to the Linux Cluster

The Linux cluster at Boston College consists of 59 compute nodes connected GigaBit Ethernet. There are two types of nodes: dual-core nodes and quad-core nodes. Each of the 26 dual-core node has two dual-core AMD Opteron processors (2.6 GHz).   Each of the 33 quad-core nodes has 2 quad-core AMD Opteron Processors (2.0 GHz). This tutorial discusses the code development environment. It will introduce:

•   The hardware
• The compilers
• The queues and How to run a job
• How to optimize a code
• Software on the cluster

August 6, 2009   1:30 – 3:30 pm O’Neill 245

Introduction to SAS

Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) is a powerful software which is widely used in statistical analysis.  This hands-on tutorial is an introduction for beginning users. No prior experience with SAS software is needed. The following topics will be covered:

• Getting started with SAS
• Temporary versus Permanent SAS data sets
• Using SAS procedures
• SAS data sets versus raw data, SPSS, and PC database files.
• SAS Analyst

July 1, 2009  12:00 -1:15 pm  O’Neil 245

Introduction to SAS, Part 2

This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who already know the basics of SAS. The following topics will be covered:

• Modifying a data set using the SET statement
• IF-THEN/ELSE statements
• Stacking data sets by using the SET statement
• Combining data sets using a one-to-one match merge
• Combining data sets using a one-to many match merge
• Using basic statistical procedures: PROC UNIVARIATE, PROC MEANS, PROC FREQ, PROC REG;

July 9, 2009  12:00-1:15pm  O’Neil 245

Introduction to Stata

Stata is a powerful and yet easy to use statistical package. This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who are just getting started using Stata. The following topics will be covered:

• Overview of Stata, including how Stata compares to the other most popular statistical packages and special features of Stata
• Getting started with Stata
• Creating and using "log" files
• Examining data
• Creating variables
• Labeling variables and values

June 25, 2009  10:00  am – noon O’Neill 245

MATLAB 1: Introduction to MATLAB programming

MATLAB fundamentals provide a working introduction to the MATLAB technical computing environment. MATLAB can be used with all aspects Mathematical computation, analysis, visualization, and algorithm development. This course is intended for beginning and intermediate users. No prior knowledge of MATLAB is required. Familiarity with a programming language (Fortran, C for example) will be helpful. Themes of vector and matrix data analysis, graphical visualization, data modeling, and MATLAB programming are explored in the context of realistic examples.

This MATLAB hands-on practice workshop will present:

• MATLAB documentation and help
• Starting and quitting MATLAB
• How to use MATLAB on Linux cluster “scorpio”
• Interaction and Script Files
• Automatic Storage Allocation
• Functions with Variable Arguments Lists
• Mathematical Functions
• Relational and Logical Operators
• Flow Control
• Importing and exporting text and Excel data

June 16, 2009   3:00 pm – 4:30 pm  O’Neill 245

MATLAB 2: Graphs and Visualization

The type of graph needed in a specific project depends on the nature of available data and on what is intended to reveal about the data. MATLAB predefines many graph types,  such as line, bar, histogram, and pie graphs. There are also 3-D graphs, such as surfaces, slice planes, and streamlines. 

This MATLAB hands-on practice workshop will focus on m-files to produce graphics, and data visualization. We will show:

• Two-Dimensional Graphics
• Basic Plots
• Axes and Annotation
• Multiple Plots in a Figure
• Three-Dimensional Graphics
• Specialized Graphs for Displaying Data
• Saving and Printing Figures

Examples presented (m files) can be easily modified and applied to your specific  experimental or model data.

June 23, 2009   2:00 pm – 3:30 pm   O’Neill 245

MATLAB 3: Statistics

This MATLAB hands-on practice workshop with focus on statistical toolbox and illustrate some of the methods used in univariate, and bivariate. The objective is to learn to work with data in the MATLAB environment, compute basic descriptive statistics, and visualize data in a variety of ways. It is assumed that participants have already some knowledge of MATLAB (at the level of previous two workshops) and background in Applied Statistics.

• Descriptive statistics: Measures of center, spread, and shape
• Statistical plotting: Histograms, scatter plots, and box plots
• Random variables, Sampling distributions, Bootstrapping
• Explore regression analysis for bivariate data
• Linear and nonlinear models
• Correlation and covariance
• Linear least squares

June 26, 2009   10:00 am – 11:30 am   O’Neill 245

MATLAB 4: Matrices, scripts and functions

This MATLAB workshop will introduce the user to basic MATLAB commands and to the use of scripts and functions. The objective is to build some familiarity with the MATLAB environment and to learn some commands that will be used in the following workshops.

The topics that will be covered are:

• Matrix generation and subscripting
• Matrix and array operations
• Matrix manipulation
• Data analysis
• Scripts and Functions

July 7,  2009   2:00 pm – 3:30 pm  O’Neill 245

MATLAB 5: Numerical Methods, Part I

This MATLAB workshop will start a two-meeting session on Numerical Methods.
In this first meeting we will deal with functions that allow for the solution of problems involving polynomials, nonlinear equations, and optimization.
It is assumed that participants have already some knowledge of MATLAB (having a grasp on how to deal with MATLAB functions would be beneficial) and background in statistics (Data fitting) and optimization theory.

The topics that will be covered are:

• Polynomials (Evaluation, Root finding and Data fitting)
• Nonlinear equations
• Optimization.

July 14, 2009   3:00 pm – 4:30 pm  O’Neill 245

MATLAB 6: Numerical Methods, Part II

This MATLAB workshop will conclude a two-meeting session on Numerical Methods. In this second meeting we will deal with integrals evaluation and with the solution of ordinary differential equations. Given the more advanced nature of these topics, more time will be spent on examples and exercises to help the understanding of the material.

It is assumed that participants have already some knowledge of MATLAB and background in integral calculus and dynamic systems.

The topics that will be covered are:

• Quadrature
• Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE)
• Stiff ODE.

July 21, 2009   3:00 pm – 4:30 pm   O’Neill 245

Qualitative Analysis Your Way

This tutorial will provide one-on-one or small group collaboration/consulting on how to use Nvivo8, Atlas.ti and/or HyperResearch for qualitative analysis depending on your research needs. Each of these products have strengths and weaknesses when used for coding and analyzing quantitative data. However they can all be used, with planning, to eliminate the problems of managing large amounts of qualitative data, can be used to code and re-code qualitative data, keep an audit trail of the analysis process, and to support both individual researchers and research teams in thinking about coding and analysis issues. This course is intended for beginning and intermediate users who have had some exposure to the methodologies and theories of qualitative analysis. It will be assumed that participants will have access to a laptop with a licensed copy or demo copy of the qualitative software package that they will be working on and at least some exposure to one of the three packages.

 This workshop will require that the participants contact the instructor, Rani Dalgin, (dalgin@bc.edu) in advance and provide samples of the qualitative data (or similar data if the actual data is confidential) to be coded.

Participants numbers will be limited  on a first come – first served basis. Based on demand, ITS Research Services staff are glad to schedule additional , alternate time, and follow-up sessions. Please contact Rani Dalgin (dalgin@bc.edu) with questions.

July 23, 2009  1:00 -4:00 pm   O’Neill 245

Stata 1: ANOVA and Mean Testing

This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who knows basics of Stata. The following topics will be covered:

• Analysis of variance and Covariance
• Independent t-tests
• Matched pair t-tests

June 9, 2009  4:00 – 5:30 pm 

STATA2:  Regression Analysis and Dummy Variables

This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who knows basics of Stata. The following topics will be covered:

• Simple regression models (OLS)
• Significance tests regarding coefficients
• Using dummy variables in regression analyses

June 11, 2009 10:00  am – noon O’Neill 245

Stata 3: Models for ordinal and nominal outcomes data

This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who knows basics of Stata. The following topics will be covered:

• Probit regression analysis
• Logistic regression analysis
• Odds ratio
• Discrete and marginal effects

June 18, 2009, 10:00  am – noon O’Neill 245 

Teaching with MATLAB

This hands-on tutorial is for faculty and teaching assistants who want to use MATLAB for course work. This tutorial is designed for people who know the basics of  MATLAB and will focus on using MATLAB through apps.bc.edu, which permits one to run MATLAB through a web interface.  Apps.bc.edu permits one to use MATLAB at one's own desktop or laptop without going to a computer lab or installing it.

 July 21, 2009   4:30 - 5:30 O’Neill 245

Teaching with Stata

This hands-on tutorial is for faculty and teaching assistants who want to use Stata for course work. This tutorial is designed for people who know the basics of  Stata and will focus on using Stata through apps.bc.edu, which permits one to run Stata through a web interface.  Apps.bc.edu permits one to use Stata at one's own desktop or laptop without going to a computer lab or installing it.

July 16, 2009  10:00  am – 11:00  O’Neill 245

Teaching with SPSS

This hands-on tutorial is for faculty and teaching assistants who want to use SPSS for course work. This tutorial is designed for people who know the basics of SPSS and will focus on using SPSS through apps.bc.edu, which permits one to run SPSS through a web interface.  Apps.bc.edu permits one to use SPSS at one's own desktop or laptop without going to a computer lab or installing it.

July 22, 2009   1:00  - 2:00  pm  O’Neill 245