The Analysis Factor
Statistical Consulting, Resources, and Statistics Workshops for Researchers
Of all the stressors you’ve got right now, accessing your statistical software from home shouldn’t be one of them. (You know, the one on your office computer).
We’ve gotten some updates from some statistical software companies on how they’re making it easier to access the software you have a license to or to extend a free trial while you’re working from home.
Learning how to analyze data can be frustrating at times. Why do statistical software companies have to add to our confusion?
I do not have a good answer to that question. What I will do is show examples. In upcoming blog posts, I will explain what each output means and how they are used in a model.
We will focus on ANOVA and linear regression models using SPSS and Stata software. As you will see, the biggest differences are not across software, but across procedures in the same software.
[Read more…] about Same Statistical Models, Different (and Confusing) Output Terms
by guest
Choosing statistical software is part of The Fundamentals of Statistical Skill and is necessary to learning a second software (something we recommend to anyone progressing from Stage 2 to Stage 3 and beyond).
[Read more…] about Member Training: What’s the Best Statistical Package for You?
At The Analysis Factor, we are on a mission to help researchers improve their statistical skills so they can do amazing research.
We all tend to think of “Statistical Analysis” as one big skill, but it’s not.
Over the years of training, coaching, and mentoring data analysts at all stages, I’ve realized there are four fundamental stages of statistical skill:
Stage 1: The Fundamentals
Stage 2: Linear Models
Stage 3: Extensions of Linear Models
Stage 4: Advanced Models
There is also a stage beyond these where the mathematical statisticians dwell. But that stage is required for such a tiny fraction of data analysis projects, we’re going to ignore that one for now.
If you try to master the skill of “statistical analysis” as a whole, it’s going to be overwhelming.
And honestly, you’ll never finish. It’s too big of a field.
But if you can work through these stages, you’ll find you can learn and do just about any statistical analysis you need to. [Read more…] about The Four Stages of Mastering Statistical Analysis
We’ve talked a lot around here about the reasons to use syntax — not only menus — in your statistical analyses.
Regardless of which software you use, the syntax file is pretty much always a text file. This is true for R, SPSS, SAS, Stata — just about all of them.
This is important because it means you can use an unlikely tool to help you code: Microsoft Word.
I know what you’re thinking. Word? Really?
Yep, it’s true. Essentially it’s because Word has much better Search-and-Replace options than your stat software’s editor.
Here are a couple features of Word’s search-and-replace that I use to help me code faster:
[Read more…] about Tricks for Using Word to Make Statistical Syntax Easier
I love working with my clients.
I love working with my clients for many reasons, but one of them is I learn so much from them.
Just this week, one of my clients showed me how to get SPSS GENLINMIXED results without the Model Viewer.
She’s my new hero.
If you’ve ever used GENLINMIXED, the procedure for Generalized Linear Mixed Models, you know that the results automatically appear in this new Model Viewer. [Read more…] about How to Get SPSS GENLINMIXED Output Without the Model Viewer