Three Statistical Courses and Workshops

Dear faculty & school members. Could you possibly distribute the following research training opportunities to your faculty/school? If you would like me to contact an alternative person for dissemination please do let me know.
 
The School of Economic & Business Sciences presents three introductory statistics courses in late March/early April:
 
1.   Multiple Regression From Scratch: A 1-Day Practical Course (1 course for SPSS users, 1 course for SAS users)
2.   Further Skills In Multiple Regression: A 1-Day Course  (1 course for SPSS users, 1 course for SAS users)
3.   Structural Equation Modelling (SEM): 1-Day Introductory (no software requirements) & Follow-On Workshops (in SAS)
 
Details are below, I apologise for any cross-listings.
 
COURSE 1: MULTIPLE REGRESSION FROM SCRATCH: A 1-DAY PRACTICAL COURSE
SPSS version Mon 29th March, SAS version Tues 30th March
Multiple regression is the most commonly used statistical technique, and for most researchers is the gateway to understanding further techniques. This course explains basic linear regression and practical application to real data, providing researchers not only with the initial practical tools to analyse data but also with the ability to progress to more complex topics later on. The course does not assume any prior stats or maths knowledge.
 
Course Content
The course will include topics such as:
a) What is a variable? b) How do variables associate? Linear association through correlation and covariance c)  The basic linear regression model and idea d)  Introducing the two major steps of regression: Assumption checks and fitting the line e) Regression assumptions and how to check and deal with them practically f)  The linear regression line, and what it all means g)  Where to go from here: Briefly introducing the more advanced topics (e.g. higher order models, interaction, etc.) The course will also briefly cover: a)  A crash-course on the SPSS system b)  Essential SPSS/SAS modules to analyse descriptive statistics, regression and correlations, inter-woven into the course
 
Course Details
Dates: SPSS version Mon 29th March, SAS version Tues 30th March
Venue: Wits University
Cost: R950 per person incl. lunch, teas and course material
Contact: Dr Gregory Lee, gregory.lee@wits.ac.za, 083 332 0724
 
COURSE 2: FURTHER SKILLS IN MULTIPLE REGRESSION: A 1-DAY PRACTICAL COURSE
SPSS version Thurs 1st April, SAS version Fri 2nd April
This is for the researcher who knows basic multiple regression principles, and now wishes to extend those skills. You can do far more after basic regression! I teach four topics that go beyond the basics, namely hierarchical regression, mediation, moderation, and some non-linear models. These skills uncover more informative relationships than the standard regression model, and help elevate and significantly advance your research.
 
The Course Content

The course will include topics such as:
 
a) Hierarchical regression: Here the researcher adds variables or sets of variables in steps, assessing at each stage whether a significant improvement is made to the model. This is a crucial technique in ascertaining whether certain focal variables add significant value
b) Mediation: Often a plausible model is that an independent variable impacts a dependent variable through a 3rd variable (a mediator). This module teaches researchers to test for this;
c) Interaction/Moderation analysis: Often independent variables interact in the process of affecting the dependent variable. Sometimes the strength or even direction of the relationship between an independent and dependent variable depends on a third variable (the moderator). This module teaches how to test for and present such findings;
d) Non-linear models: You may wish to test not for linear relationships but other forms, e.g. quadratic/curvilinear. This teaches some of these models
 
Course Details
Date:  SPSS version Thurs 1st April, SAS version Fri 2nd April
Venue: Wits University
Cost: R1,150 incl. notes, lunch & tea. 
Contact: Dr Gregory Lee, gregory.lee@wits.ac.za, 083 332 0724
 
COURSE 3: STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING (SEM): 1-DAY INTRODUCTORY & FOLLOW-ON WORKSHOPS
Introduction to SEM: Thurs 8th April / Practical SEM Implementation Fri 9th & Mon 12th April / Advanced SEM topics Tues 13th April
 
Structural equation modelling (SEM) is one of the most important quantitative techniques in research today. SEM has come to dominate research in areas from biology to psychology & education to management. There is a 1-day course on theory, a 2-day practical workshop, and a 1-day “Advanced topics” workshop. You can take these separately or together. They will equip even the absolute beginner first to understand SEM, then (if you do the workshops) enable you to implement SEM practically. The course is taught using TCalis.
 
Course Content
To facilitate different needs, the course will be split up into parts, which can be taken together or separately, as follows:
 
a) A 1-day taught course on understanding SEM. This one-day course will teach the basic principles and practices of understanding and interpreting SEM models, including reading typical SEM computer print-outs. The standard confirmatory factor analysis and structural regression models will be the main focus. This course focuses on understanding, including reading the typical SEM print-out, so at this stage participants will not be taught to program and run their own SEM models. This is the perfect introduction for the interested beginner as well as overview for those who wish to understand and read SEM but not necessarily do it themselves.
b) 2-day practical lab workshops on SEM implementation in SAS. This two-day set of workshops concerns the data analysis skills necessary to implement SEM in SAS. This includes all data screening and preparation skills, as well as implementation, for the fundamental Confirmatory  Factor Analysis and Structural Regression Models. The course will be taught in the all-new SAS 9.2 experimental PROC TCALIS module. The course is designed to accommodate a complete beginner in SAS, who will be taught the necessary skills to use the programme.
c) 1-day workshop in understanding and implementing more advanced SEM skills. This workshop will teach modelling skills and options that go beyond the basics, including models with feedback loops (non-recursive models), using bootstrapping to improve SEM models, an introduction to mean-based models such as latent growth modeling, multi-trait multi-method models, and multiple sample models.
 
The lecturing material will include both notes and a well known book: R.B. Kline (2005) Principles & Practice of Structural Equation Modeling (2nd Ed.), Guilford.
 
Course Details
Dates & Cost:
Course 1 (Introduction to SEM) Thurs Thurs 8th April , R1,550 + R550 for Kline textbook
Course 2 (Practical SEM Implementation): Fri 9th & Mon 12th April, R2,500
Course 3 (Advanced SEM Topics): Tues 13th April, R1250
Venues: To be announced depending on class sizes
Contact: Dr Gregory Lee, gregory.lee@wits.ac.za, 083 332 0724
 
THE GENERAL COURSE APPROACH
These courses assume that attendees have NO current understanding of statistics, NO mathematical background, and NO prior experience with statistical programmes. They are presented mostly verbally. They are practical and interactive: concepts are illustrated using a case study & dataset from the facilitator’s research. Each participant will work on the case study in a computer lab environment in conjunction with lecture learning. The lecturing material will include notes.
 
About the Facilitator
 Dr. Gregory John Lee lectures in the School of Economic and Business Science of the University of the Witwatersrand. His work appears on the international and local stage, including Scientometrics, the International Journal of Human Resource Management, European Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Manpower, Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing, Journal of Human Resource Costing and Accounting, and many South African journals. He is on the editorial team of the British Psychological Society’s journal the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (JOOP), and teaches the SAS Institute Structural Equation Modelling course. He frequently appears on the industry consulting, conference and speaking stage.
 

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