Introduction to Statistical Modelling using R and R Commander
12--13 July 2011, University of Queensland
Brisbane
About this course:
Statistical modelling is a key component of modern statistical analysis. The course will revise the linear model - ANOVAs and linear regression; and extend this to the generalised linear model - including logistic and Poisson regression (for 0/1 and count data). There will be strong emphasis on practical implementation of these models, along with techniques for exploratory data analysis using graphs, model selection and diagnostics, which will be carried out hands-on using the powerful but free statistical software package R throughout the course. Participants will use R Commander, which allows learning the powerful R programming language using point and click menus, and then progressing on to using the power of R more directly through writing the language directly in scripts.
Target audience:
This 2 day course is aimed at users of statistics in applied situations such as biology, health, ecology, etc. Participants need to have a basic university statistics course or equivalent so they have a basic familiarity with ANOVA and/or linear regression. At the end of the course, participants will have acquired an understanding of:
- the linear model, drawing together, simple and multiple regression, ANOVA and ANCOVA, allowing modelling of a response variable against explanatory variables which are continuous (numbers) or categorical (factors) or combinations of these
- the generalised linear model (GLM) which includes logistic regression (where the response variable is of a 0/1 or yes/no type) and Poisson regression (where the response variable is a count)
- a four step approach to modelling
- examining data - especially graphing
- specifying the model
- fitting the model
- critiquing the model, including model simplification; and assessing diagnostics to assess potential violation of the assumptions for the model
- using R Commander, and how to progress on to use the power of R directly
Delegates will need to bring a computer laptop with R installed to this workshop.
For the hands-on practical computer sessions participants will need to bring laptop computers with R (preferably 13.0) running under Windows. If installing R under Windows, please choose SDI rather than MDI when the option is given. Also try to install the package Rcmdr (R Commander). If you have any issues with SDI or Rcmdr, please come early on the first day, and we can help with Windows installations. Participants running other platforms/operating systems, or using R prior to 13.0 will need to ensure for themselves that THEY have installed and tested R commander on their platform prior to the workshop. R and R Commander can be freely downloaded from http://cran.r-project.org.
About the Instructor:
The workshop will be presented by Ian Westbrooke, an experienced applied statistician who leads statistical work at the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Ian has worked previously at the NZ Health Funding Authority, and the official statistics agency Statistics NZ. Ian also teaches statistics at University of Canterbury. He has developed and presented many sessions of a similar course, and more advanced topics, for ecologists and other science and technical staff at DOC, as well as at universities in New Zealand. Ian is a keynote presenter at the First International Conference on Health Statistics in the Pacific Islands in Fiji in July. He will present workshops there on a couple of favourite topics - Data handling using spreadsheets; and Data visualisation. Proceeds from this workshop will be used to support the Fiji conference.
Cost:
There are separate registration costs depending upon whether the delegate is a full-time student, and a member of the Statistical Society of Australia. Registration includes a complete set of course notes, and full catering (lunch, morning and afternoon tea) throughout the workshop.
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Student members
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Student
non-members
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SSAI
Members
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Non-members
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Early Bird
(before 16th June)
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$AUD300
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$AUD350
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$AUD450
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$AUD500
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Regular
(after 15th June)
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$AUD350
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$AUD400
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$AUD500
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$AUD550
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Places are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment!
Online registration is available here. To download a registration form, please click here.
Non-member students wishing to take advantage of the student rate need to use the hard-copy registration form and fax it together with their student id to SSAI, Fax No. 02 6251 0204.
Members need to be logged in with their username and password to take advantage of the member rates!
Venue:
The workshop will be held at room 142, building 67 (Priestley Building) at the University of Queensland. A map of the venue can be downloaded here.
Accommodation:
Anyone wanting to stay in student accommodation for the duration of the workshop can do so for $80 per night for bed, breakfast and dinner. To book your room, please contact John Nightingale at St John’s College at john.nightingale@stjohns.uq.edu.au.
Travel Expenses
Occasionally workshops have to be cancelled due to a lack of subscription. Please contact the SSAI Office before making any travel arrangements to confirm that the workshop will go ahead, because the SSAI will not be held responsible for any travel or accommodation expenses incurred due to a workshop cancellation.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations received prior to 5 July 2011 will be refunded in full. Cancellations need to be accompanied by a valid credit card number and expiry date which will be used to put the refund through. After 5 July 2011 no part of the registration fee will be refunded. However, registrations are transferable within the same organisation. Please advise any changes to eo@statsoc.org.au.
All proceeds from this workshop will go towards the International Conference for Health Statistics in the Pacific Islands (providing much-needed statistical training to Pacific Island staff).
Proudly organised by the SSAI Young Medical Statisticians (UQ) and the ASA Friends of Australasia
