Research Services offers tutorials and workshops on a variety of topics. Each semester, we present a series of tutorials. If you have suggestions, please contact us (researchservices@bc.edu). We will also give customized tutorials, and we are available for advanced topics and consulting.
Tutorial Descriptions - Winter 2023
Introduction to REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture)
This tutorial is geared towards Boston College Principal Investigators, researchers and research project team managers. REDCap stands for Research Electronic Data Capture. REDCap is a web-based, data collection, database management system that was originally developed at Vanderbilt University, initially for medical research. REDCap is now overseen by a consortium of academic research partners in the United States and throughout the world. Boston College is part of the REDCap consortium.
In this introduction to REDCap we will discuss:
- How to request a REDCap project at Boston College
- How to make sure that your REDCap project complies with the mandates of your project's IRB approval
- How to create basic data collection forms
- An introduction to best practices for setting up your REDCap project
- We will discuss additional REDCap functionality including offline survey capabilities, text to voice capability, potential for using twilio.com SMS services (for an additional fee), improved field calculations, repeating forms and more
- How to enter data into REDCap
- How to control REDCap user access rights
- How to export your data
Research Services staff are available to meet with members of the Boston College community to discuss individual REDCap projects. Individual consultations or customized class consultations are available by emailing researchservices@bc.edu or dalgin@bc.edu.
If possible, prior to the tutorial, please fill out the BC REDCap Terms of Use survey described on this google doc and indicate that you will be attending the REDCap Tutorial.
Presented by Rani Dalgin.
Wednesday, February 8 from 3-4:30pm (Zoom)
Creating Web-Based Surveys with Qualtrics
Qualtrics offers a fairly intuitive graphical user interface to create complex surveys without complicated programming or coding. Qualtrics offers extensive documentation, free online tutorials, an extensive library of surveys and options for encryption and anonymity, and excellent customer support. Qualtrics also offers built in social media sharing functions and an accessibility checker. Working within pre-defined templates, you can use many different types of questions, including text, multiple checkboxes, sliders, single-answer radio buttons, and Likert scales. Qualtrics offers extensive branching functionality.
Once the survey is completed, data can be downloaded into a format that can be used with a variety of quantitative and qualitative analysis programs. Qualtrics also offers foreign language functionality.
This tutorial will demonstrate how to create a survey in Qualtrics and also include a section on research protections and informed consent with respect to online survey development, distribution, and analysis. Boston College faculty, students, researchers, and administrative staff may create their own Qualtrics accounts in advance of the tutorial by logging on at bostoncollege.qualtrics.com (with your BC credentials).
If possible, please complete this short BC Qualtrics Terms of Use Survey before attending the tutorial.
Research Services staff are available to meet with members of the Boston College community to discuss individual Qualtrics projects.
Individual consultations or customized class consultations are available by emailing researchservices@bc.edu or dalgin@bc.edu.
Presented by Rani Dalgin.
Wednesday, February 15 from 3-4:30pm (Zoom)
Introduction to BC’s Linux Cluster
This tutorial is intended to be an introduction to the Linux cluster at Boston College. Currently the user can access the Andromeda cluster. An overview, the primary components, and examples of how to use BC’s Linux cluster.
This hands-on tutorial will cover:
- Overview of the Andromeda Linux cluster system at Boston College
- The hardware architecture
- Management of Linux Cluster
- How to remote access of the cluster
- Common Unix/Linux commands
- How to use software modules and SLURM queuing system
- How to submit jobs to Andromeda
Presented by Wei Qiu.
Thursday, February 16 from 12-1:30pm (Zoom)
Introduction to Machine Learning
Machine learning is a data analysis method of getting computers to act without being explicitly programmed. It is based on the algorithms that use statistics to build models and find patterns in massive amounts of data. Machine Learning is extensively used in a wide variety of applications and changing our day-to-day life.
This tutorial is for beginners to learn and will cover:
- Introduction/Definition
- Where and Why Machine Learning is used
- Types of Learning
- Supervised Learning
- Unsupervised Learning
Presented by Yixin Pan.
Friday February 17 from 1–2pm (Zoom)
What’s New in REDCap 13.x
Boston College recently implemented a major upgrade to REDCap. We will be moving to a cycle of major upgrades every 6 months.
Our latest upgrade included a major upgrade to REDCap Multi-Language Management (MLM)
Users can create and configure multiple display languages for their projects for surveys, data entry forms, alerts, survey invitations, etc. Users can design data collection instruments and have them displayed in any language that they have defined and translated so that their survey participants or data entry persons can view the text in their preferred language. This eliminates the need to create multiple instruments or projects to handle multiple languages.
NOTE: The MLM feature will not auto-translate text, but provides tools so that users may easily translate them themselves.
Please join us for a discussion and demonstration of this new feature.
Presented by Rani Dalgin.
Wednesday, February 22 from 3–4:30pm (Zoom)
Introduction to Regression
As the most common methodology in statistical analysis regression is an important tool for any modern researcher. This course is intended as an introduction to standard or linear regression. We will focus on estimation methods, identifying and validating model assumptions. We will also focus on hypothesis testing for regression estimates and statistical model building. We will use R software but the goal of the course is to learn concepts and is not intended as a tutorial for any specific software.
Note: The mixed modeling course is a natural sequel to Introduction to Regression.
Presented by Matt Gregas.
Thursday, February 23 from 10–11:30am (Zoom)
Linear Mixed Effects Modeling
This tutorial is a brief introduction to linear mixed effects (LME) modeling, also known as multilevel modeling or hierarchical linear modeling. LME models are essential for researchers handling either longitudinal (repeated measures) data or data that is 'clustered' (e.g. students nested within classrooms, and classrooms nested within schools). Many familiar methods such as ANOVA or regression assume that all observations are recorded independently; Clustered data and data with repeated measures violate this assumption. LME modeling is an extension of regression that accounts for the correlated data structure inherent in repeated-measures and clustered designs. In this tutorial, we introduce the model, discuss when and why this method should be used, and how to interpret results in common statistical programs. This tutorial is appropriate for anyone with a background in linear regression. Those wanting a refresher may consider attending the Research Services tutorial on regression.
Presented by Melissa McTernan.
Thursday, February 23 from 12-1:30pm (Zoom)
Intro to Stata 1: Getting Started, Descriptive Stats & Do Files
Stata is a powerful, 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 emphasis in this tutorial is on exploring the data, cleaning the data for research purposes, and generating descriptive Statistics.
- Accessing Stata on BC Apps - you will receive instructions on how to do this prior to the tutorial. How to access apps on BC Apps.
- Loading data
- Data manipulation
- Descriptive statistics
- Do-files and log files
Presented by Eric Williamson.
Thursday, March 2 from 2-3pm (Zoom)
Intro to GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is a computer-based mapping tool that can be used for analyzing and visualizing spatial data. This workshop focuses on the use of ArcGIS Online. ArcGIS is the “industry standard” GIS software and the web-based version is accessible through all computer platforms. In this workshop we will cover basic GIS concepts and make a web-based map. This includes finding and editing geospatial data, using symbology to display your data, running basic analysis tools, and publishing your maps.
Presented by Kate Willis.
Wednesday March 22 from 11am-12:30pm (Zoom)
Intro to Stata 2: Graphing, Dataset Combining, Linear Regression, Stat/Transfer
Stata is a powerful, 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 emphasis in this tutorial is on basic graphing, merging data, and linear regression.
- Basic graphing and graph editor
- Combining multiple datasets
- Linear Regression in Stata
Presented by Eric Williamson.
Tuesday, April 11 from 10-11am (Zoom)