To register, please send email to researchservices@bc.edu with the names of the tutorials that you are interested in attending.
Causal Modeling Using Multiple Regression With SPSS
This tutorial will cover the steps in using variables for causal modeling with SPSS in the social sciences. Processes in transforming variables, interpreting the F-statistic, significance, and ranking regressors will be explored using procedures with SPSS.
10:00 - 12:00 pm, June 19, 2008 O'Neill 245
Creating Models Using Interaction Effects With SPSS
This tutorial assumes a basic understanding of multiple regression, and discusses the concepts involved in creating an interaction term for social science research and interpreting the results in SPSS.
10:00 - 12:00 pm July 10, 2008 O'Neill 245
Creating Models Using Quadratic Effects With SPSS
This tutorial assumes a basic understanding of multiple regression, and discusses the application of quadratic analysis in understanding and describing social phenomena for the social sciences using SPSS.
1:00 - 3:00 pm, July 15, 2008 O'Neill 245
Demographic analysis with ArcGIS: Geostatistics
The focus of this workshop will be on the use of ArcGIS to analyze demographic data. The session will highlight GIS data available for research and include demonstrations of ArcGIS using cases based on Census and related data. GIS is an analysis tool which complements other quantitative methods used to analyze population data. The data that the Census Bureau collects during the decennial census and other population surveys has grown extensively over the years and has become an important resource for researchers and government agencies. Besides providing the basis for congressional redistricting, Census data are used in many other ways. Since 1975, the Census Bureau has had responsibility to produce small-area population data needed to redraw state legislative and congressional districts. Other important uses of Census data include the distribution of funds for government programs; planning the right locations for schools, roads, and other public facilities; helping real estate agents and potential residents learn about a neighborhood; and identifying trends over time that can help predict future needs. Most Census data are available for many levels of geography, including states, counties, cities and towns, ZIP codes, census tracts and blocks.
Census data and GIS applications are used by community planners, marketing, managers, scientists and researchers in education, economists, sociologists, social workers, health care managers, librarians, and data administrators.
International population data are available also to address demographic issues in a specific country, at regional or at global scale. We will discuss these resources with those interested. No prior knowledge of ArcGIS is required.
2:00 - 4:00 pm, June 18, 2008 Gasson 9
Introduction to ArcGIS
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used today to analyze and represent data with geographical reference on maps. Such applications are widely used in academia, private industry and government agencies and the number of applications is increasing. ArcGIS Desktop software products from the Environmental Research Systems Institute (ESRI).
ArcGIS Desktop is an integrated suite of advanced GIS applications and interfaces, including ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcGlobe, ArcScene, ArcToolbox, and ModelBuilder. Using these applications and interfaces, you can perform any GIS task, from simple to advanced, including mapping; geographic analysis; data editing, compilation, and management; visualization; and geoprocessing. ArcGIS Desktop is scalable to meet the needs of many types of users.
This session will introduce users to: 1) GIS software, data and technical support at Boston College; 2) License options; 3) Main ArcGIS features and capabilities (ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcTool, ArcGlobe); 4) Present available extensions and capabilities (Spatial Analyst, Geostatistical Analyst, etc); 5) Demos using Census data; Demos using Environmental data. Options to get data and training will be also discussed. No prior knowledge of ArcGIS is required.
2:00 - 4:00 pm, June 11, 2008 Gasson 9
Introduction to HyperResearch
This workshop provides an introductory demonstration of how to use HyperResearch for qualitative analysis. HyperResearch is perhaps the most intuitive and easy to learn of the computer assisted qualitative research packages. This course is intended for beginning HyperResearch users. This workshop will be given in a demonstration (non-hands on) format.
- Getting started with HyperResearch.
- Thinking about qualitative research design;
- Source Preparation;
- Data analysis examples;
- Comparison with other qualitative research packages such as Nvivo8 and Atlasti
10:00 - 11:30 am, June 17, 2008 Gasson 9
Introduction to Nvivo8
This workshop provides an introductory demonstration of how to use Nvivo8 for qualitative analysis. Nvivo7 can be used 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 supports both individual researchers and research teams in discussing 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.
This workshop will be given in a demonstration (non-hands on) format:
- Getting started with Nvivo8
- Thinking about qualitative research design
- Source Preparation
- Attribute Variables
- Data importing and data analysis examples
- Comparison with other qualitative research packages such as HyperResearch and Atlasti
1:00 to 3:00 pm, July 10, 2008 O'Neill 245
Introduction to SPSS
SPSS 16 is a powerful and yet easy to use statistical analysis package. This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who are just getting started using SPSS. Participants may register for one or both sessions.
The first hour of this seminar will include:
- An overview of SPSS, including how SPSS compares to the other most
popular statistical packages. We will discuss special features and advantages/disadvantages of using SPSS. - Getting started with SPSS.
- Creating and using SPSS syntax files.
- Working with Data in SPSS.
- SPSS graphs.
1:00 - 2:00 pm, June 19, 2008 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:
- Introduction: The Matlab system; Matlab documentation and help; Starting and quitting Matlab; How to use Matlab on Linux cluster “scorpio”
- Matrices and arrays: Entering matrices; Load data; Matrix Algebra
- Matlab programming: Program control statements; Data types; Variables; Operators; Expressions; Matlab functions; Creating a program; Importing and exporting text and Excel data
- Introduction to Matlab graphics capabilities
Session 1: 9:30 - 11:30 am, July 16, 2008 Gasson 9
Session 2: 2:00 - 4:00 pm, July 16, 2008 Gasson 9
The content of both sessions are identical. Sign up for one.
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. There are two basic ways to create graphs in MATLAB: 1) Use plotting tools to create graphs interactively; 2) Use the command interface to enter commands in the Command Window or create plotting programs (m files).
This Matlab hands-on practice workshop will focus on m-files to produce graphics, data visualization, and animation. We will show:
- Basic Plotting Commands: Commands Plotting Steps; Creating Line Plots
Specifying Line Style; Colors, Line Styles, and Markers; Specifying the Color and Size of Lines; Adding Plots to an Existing Graph; Plotting Only the Data Points; Plotting Markers and Lines; Line Styles for Black and White Output; Samples of various 2D plots - Figure Windows: Displaying Multiple Plots per Figure; Subplots; Save and print plots
- Samples of 3D Plots
- Animation: Movies; Erase Modes; Examples on how to create animations
Examples presented (m files) can be easily modified and applied to your specific experimental or model data.
Session 1: 9:30 - 11:30 am, July 18, 2008 Gasson 9
Session 2: 2:00 - 4:00 pm, July 18, 2008 Gasson 9
The content of both sessions are identical. Sign up for one.
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
- Review the basics of probability and random variables and explore the variety of probability distributions available in the Statistics Toolbox. Random variables, Sampling distributions, Bootstrapping
- Explore regression analysis for bivariate data:Regression concepts,
Linear and nonlinear models, Scatter plots, Correlation and covariance - Linear least squares. Polynomial fitting. Graphical user interface tools for linear regression
Session 1: 9:30 - 11:30 am, July 29, 2008 Gasson 9
Session 2: 2:00 - 4:00 pm, July 29, 2008 Gasson 9
The content of both sessions are identical. Sign up for one.
MATLAB 4: Multivariate statistics
This MATLAB hands-on practice workshop with focus on and multivariate statistics. The objective is to learn to work with data in the MATLAB environment, to perform statistical analysis of data sets with multiple variables. One of the difficulties inherent in multivariate statistics is the problem of visualizing data that has many variables. Fortunately, in data sets with many variables, groups of variables often move together. One reason for this is that more than one variable might be measuring the same driving principle governing the behavior of the system. When this happens, you can take advantage of this redundancy of information. You can simplify the problem by replacing a group of variables with a single new variable. Principal components analysis is a quantitatively rigorous method for achieving this simplification.
Topics illustrated:
- Multivariate statistics: Principal Components Analysis, The Principal Component Coefficients, The Component Scores, The Component Variances, Visualizing the Results of a Principal Components Analysis.
- Factor analysis.
- Multivariate regressions and special graphics methods to visualize the relationships between many variables.
It is assumed that participants have already some knowledge of MATLAB (at the level of previous workshops) and background in Applied Statistics.
Session 1: 9:30 - 11:30 am, July 31,2008 Gasson 9
Session 2: 2:00 - 4:00 pm, July 31, 2008 Gasson 9
The content of both sessions are identical. Sign up for one.
Stata 1: Getting Started
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:
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Overview of Stata, including how Stata compares to the other most popular statistical packages and special features of Stata
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Getting started with Stata
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Creating and using "log" files
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Examining data
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Creating variables
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Labeling variables and values
1:00 - 3:00 pm, June 17, 2008 O'Neill 245
Stata 2: "Do" files, graphs, Regression and Significance tests
This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who knows basics of Stata. The following topics will be covered:
- Creating and using "do" files
- Working with graphs
- Simple regression models
- Significance tests regarding coefficients
1:00 - 3:00 pm, June 24, 2008 O'Neill 245
Stata 3: Logistic Regression for the social Sciences
This tutorial will cover some basic principles and procedures for logistic regression geared towards the social sciences.
- Logistic regression analysis
- Likelihood ratio
- Discrete and marginal effects
1:00 - 3:00 pm, July 8, 2008 O'Neill 245
Using a Scale: Reliability Analysis and Factor Analysis With SPSS
This tutorial will cover the basic steps involved in getting a Cronbach's Alpha on a set of variables for use as a scale, and interpreting the results in SPSS. Additionally, exploratory factor analysis will be discussed to determine dimensions within a scale that can be assessed for validity.
1:00 - 3:00 pm, July 22, 2008 O'Neill 245
What’s New in SPSS 16
This session will be a refresher class and review of the changes in the latest release of SPSS 16 for more experienced SPSS users. Both Windows and Mac versions are discussed.
2:00 - 3:00 pm, June 19,2008 O'Neill 245