A 6-Module Online, Interactive Workshop

Starts Tuesday, September 29, 2020

You may find yourself with a research question where time is a dependent variable:

• What is the impact of surgery on a lung cancer patient’s five-year survival probability?
• What percentage of job-seekers will receive a job offer within 6 months of completing a training program?
• What is the failure rate of refrigerators designed with a new component?

Survival analysis (also called duration modelling in economics, reliability analysis in engineering, and event history analysis in sociology) is a whole set of statistical methods to turn to in order to answer these questions.

Unfortunately, regression models that assume normality are not up to the task when the dependent variable is the time to an event. If you try to use a normal distribution, you’ll end up with biased results.

To properly analyze these data, you’re going to have to roll up your sleeves and get your hands into some complex concepts, graphs, formulas, and models.

But they are well worth the effort to master. A solid understanding of the data issues will save you frustration. Being able to choose, run, and interpret the right type of survival analysis model will save you time, improve your research, and allow you to get a lot more done.

Don’t get scared off by the complexity — simplifying complicated concepts is where The Analysis Factor excels, and exactly what we’ll do in our workshop.

In this six-module live, online workshop, we’ll cover:

• The fundamental concepts and analyses: censoring, Kaplan-Meier tables, Log Rank tests, survival and hazard curves
• Planning a study and data management for survival analysis
• How to fit, assess assumptions for, and interpret Cox proportional hazards regression model and parametric survival models, including exponential and Weibull models
• Applying and using tricky elements like Schoenfeld residuals, Martingale residuals, proportional hazards, and time-varying covariates
• Advanced models such as competing risk models for multiple causes of the event and frailty and cluster models for events that can recur

Who Is This Workshop For?

This workshop is suitable for students and professionals.

This workshop is for you if you:

• Are an intermediate user of statistics and you want to put a powerful statistical skill into your toolbox
• Are interested in a practical, intuitive understanding of the concepts, steps, and interpretation of survival analysis so you can apply it in your own work
• Are comfortable with statistical concepts like hypothesis testing, conditional probability, confidence intervals, testing assumptions, and model building
• Understand and have experience running linear regression and simple analysis of variance models
• Analyze data in a field that sometimes includes time-to-event data, like education, psychology, medicine, engineering, sociology, etc.

It is NOT for you if you:

• Do not measure time to events in your data sets
• Do not encounter censored data in your work
• Are a statistician and are looking for a mathematical, theory-based understanding of survival analysis
• Are a complete beginner at statistics and have never run any regression model

“It was a very thorough set of workshops, a good pace, and it should prove to be an asset to my future data analysis projects.”

— David Scott, Previous workshop participant —

How Does It Work?

This course is a 6-module live, interactive online workshop.

All lessons are conducted online via live webinar. You’ll see the instructor’s screen to view the presentation…all from your own home or office.

During each webinar session, the instructor will cover core concepts and steps and will leave plenty of time to ask your own questions.

Have more questions? No problem!

In addition to the six lessons, you’ll also meet with your instructor for six additional Q&A sessions where you can get additional assistance on workshop concepts, deepen your knowledge, and clarify any questions.

All 6 Workshop Sessions and 6 Q&A Sessions Are Recorded for Your Convenience.

Where Do I Access Recordings and Material?

For each of the six modules, you will have a set of training resources and material.

As a participant of the Survival Analysis workshop, you can access these for 12 months in our participant-only website.

You’ll have access to this site and all the related materials and resources for ONE FULL YEAR. That means you can re-watch sessions and ask additional questions again during that 12-month period.

Often, our students report they understand the material at a deeper level on a second or third pass. You’ll learn more every time, so take advantage of it!

“The ability to hang on to all of these materials, including the bonus materials is a really great feature. I feel like I have this whole library of references that I can go back to if I need it.”

— Noelle Chesley, Previous workshop participant —

What’s Covered in the Workshop?

Module 1: An Introduction to Kaplan-Meier Curves

• Constructing a Kaplan-Meier Curve and Confidence Intervals
• Censoring and Its Assumptions
• Log Rank Test for Subgroup Comparisons

Module 2: The Hazard Function and the Cox Regression Model

• Definition of a Hazard Function and the Cumulative Hazard Function
• Constant Hazard vs Increasing or Decreasing Hazard
• Steps to Run Cox Regression Models and Interpret Model Coefficients
• The proportional hazards assumption, partial likelihood estimation, and test statistics in a Cox model

Module 3: Planning a Survival Analysis Study and Data Management Issues

• Data Set Up for Survival Analysis
• How to Compute Power and Sample Size estimates
• Problems with and Handling of Date Variables
• Research Design Issues

Module 4: Model Fitting and Diagnostics for the Cox Model

• Multiple Predictor Variables
• Risk Adjustment
• Proportional Hazards

Module 5: Parametric Survival Models

• Comparing Hazard Functions for Popular Distributions
• The Exponential and Weibull Distributions and Survival Models
• Interpreting Coefficients
• Understanding Advantages and Disadvantages

Module 6: Time-Varying Covariates in a Cox Model

• How to Code Data for Time-Varying Covariates
• How to Define Random Effects
• Fit Time-Varying Models
• Interpreting the Results

Dates and Times

There are six workshop modules, each with a lesson and a Q&A session (plus supporting materials).

We will meet on Tuesdays at 3pm, US Eastern. The workshop sessions are approximately 2 hours long, including time for questions.

Workshop Orientation (Optional):

Monday, September 28, 2020 from 3pm – 4pm (GMT-5)

Module Dates: Tuesdays from 3pm – 5pm (GMT-5)

Module 1 – September 29

Module 2 – October 6

Module 3 – October 13

BREAK WEEK

Module 4 – October 27

Module 5 – November 3

Module 6 – November 10

Q&A Session Dates: Mondays from 3pm – 4pm (GMT-5)

Module 1 – October 5

Module 2 – October 12

Module 3 – October 26

Module 4 – November 2

Module 5 – November 9

Module 6 – November 23

Remember, everything is recorded and available for you to watch at your convenience, should you be unable to attend a live session.

Also, you have access to all the class materials for a full 12 months from your enrollment date.

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Sorry, enrollment for this workshop is not currently open.

Please contact us if you have any questions
or get on the waiting list to be notified when it's open again.

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“I regularly take ecourses and like that format, but this is a step better because there are real time webinars and Q&A sessions that permit you to have a recorded version of your particular question getting answered. Can’t ask for more.”

— David Fabienke, MPP, Previous workshop participant —

Prerequisites

So what kind of background in statistics do you need?

This workshop is an advanced level workshop. It starts slowly and becomes advanced very quickly. We’re assuming you have solid foundation in linear models.

You should be comfortable with running linear regression models in a statistical software package like SAS, SPSS, Stata, or R and with producing graphs. Some familiarity with basic calculus (integrals and derivatives) and with probability concepts like the density function are also helpful but not absolutely necessary.

If you have questions about whether you’re ready for this class, just email us. We’ll give you our honest opinion. We want you to succeed!

Your Satisfaction Is Guaranteed

As with all of our programs, your satisfaction is guaranteed. Your registration fee is fully refundable for any reason up to the close of enrollment, no questions asked. Once the refund period ends and the workshop begins, we want you to be satisfied. If you participate fully in a workshop – watch, read, and try out what is included – and find you are not satisfied, we will give you a full refund. Just notify us within 90 days of purchasing the program.

FAQs

Q: I haven’t taken a statistics course in years. Will I be able to keep up?

A: As long as you have the suggested prerequisites (a strong understanding of linear regression), you should be fine.

However, you WILL need to spend some time each week, both going over the material and also “getting your hands dirty” with some data. Expect to spend 4-5 hours per week reviewing the material and doing the exercises, and re-running class examples on your own.

And if you have questions during the workshop, make sure to attend the Q&A sessions and/or post on the Workshop Center to clarify anything you’re not clear on.

You know how this goes: The more time you put in, the deeper your understanding.

Q: What’s your refund policy?

A: Your registration fee is fully refundable up to 72 hours before your first class session. No refunds will be granted after the program begins.

Q: Do you offer student discounts?

A: Yes, we do! Current students with a valid ID can register for up to 20% off the standard rate. Click here to receive our student discount on all our workshops: Student Discount List

Q: Things are very busy at work right now, and I’m afraid I won’t have time to keep up. How much time per week does this really take?

A: We’ve worked hard to make sure people can take a workshop in the midst of their normal work life. For longer workshops, we build in a week off halfway through the course.

Each workshop webinar session is about 2 hours, whether you attend live or listen to the recording.

Each week, we have a one-hour Q&A session. You don’t have to attend, we just make those available so you can have any questions answered or listen in on others’ questions.

We provide exercises, answers and data sets, so you can practice what you’ve learned each week and get help in the Q&As. These will take you a few hours each week, maybe up to 3 or so. The exercises aren’t required—you’re not graded. But we’ve gotten feedback that they’re very helpful, as it allows you to practice and figure out what you did and didn’t understand.

In other words, each week, there are approximately 2 hours of instruction, one hour of Q&A, and about 2-3 hours of practice time. So if you have a crazy hectic week during the workshop, you have catch up time. But If you have a crazy hectic month, you may be better off waiting as you won’t really have a chance to catch up.

One reminder: You have access to the workshop website, all materials, and a place to ask questions for a year. So if you get behind, you aren’t missing out. You can catch up on your schedule.

Q: I teach/work/sleep during this time and cannot attend live. Is there any way to register and access the webinar sessions later?

A: Yes! We have participants from many time zones with many different work schedules. In order to support our diverse student base, all material – including the workshop sessions and Q&As — are recorded and made available to students within 48 hours. They’re screenshot video files, so you’ll hear the instructor talking and see his screen, just as live participants do. You can even submit questions for written answers any time between sessions. Many students take the entire workshop in this manner, never attending a session live.

You can also download and keep these videos forever, so if you need to refresh your memory at any point in the future, it’s yours to review.

Q: I’m outside the U.S. Can I still participate?

A: Yes. We have participants in our workshops from many different countries. You will want a fast internet connection and either a computer speaker or a telephone if you plan to attend live.

Q: Can I pay with Paypal?

A: Yes. When you check out, you can pay directly using our system or paying with Paypal. However, the three-payment option is not available using PayPal.

Q: Can I join the Q&A webinars from my tablet or phone?

A: Yes. You can join all webinar sessions from your Apple or Android device by downloading a free GoToMeeting app.

Q: This really isn’t a good time for me. Will you be offering this workshop again soon?

A: We don’t have a set schedule for running each workshop. We try to schedule each workshop every 12-18 months, though very popular workshops may be offered more often. We are sometimes unable to re-run a workshop if the instructor becomes unavailable so there are no guarantees that any workshop will be run again.

If you think you’ll need the material in the next half-year or so, I would suggest registering now. You’ll get all the materials to download and review at your convenience, and you can attend again for free any time in the next 12 months.

Have additional questions? We’re here to help! Just email us at support@theanalysisfactor.com.