Short Course: Introductory Statistics for Researchers Using R

Accessibility

This is an in person course. Slides are in PDF format, exercises are in R markdown, and both will be downloadable in advance. If HTML slides and alt text are needed we will make every effort to provide these, please let us know well in advance. Lectures will be recorded and available for a week following the workshop.

Important Notes - please read

1. Participants must have basic R skills prior to workshop

This is NOT an introductory workshop in using the statistical software package, R. Basic R coding will not be taught. To do this workshop successfully, you must have basic proficiency in using the R package. All examples and exercises used in this workshop are done using R. We want to ensure everyone is able to follow the material, and no participant is disappointed.

• If you have basic R skills, that's excellent, please complete this quick task HERE. Once you have completed this and emailed your results to stats.central@unsw.edu.au, then you will be given a code to allow you to register.
  
• If you do not have basic R skills, but want to do the Introductory Statistics for Researchers workshop, you can enrol in our Introduction to R course, February3, that runs ahead of this workshop. You will receive the "code" highlighted in yellow  in the "email ordered message" after ticket purchased for registering for this workshop.
  

Note: please make sure to select the correct "ticket type" when registering. Your ticket will be verified, and choosing the right one will help us match your registration details quickly and accurately. If you're unsure which ticket type applies to you, feel free to reach out to us directly stats.central@unsw.edu.au.

2. Own computer

You will need to bring and use your own computer during the workshop with both R and RStudio installed. You will also need administrator rights to install further packages needed throughout the workshop.

Course Overview

This workshop is designed as an introduction to statistical analysis for researchers. There is emphasis on understanding the concepts of statistical procedures (with a minimum of mathematics, although some will be discussed) and on interpreting computer output. It is designed to help you, the researcher. It is helpful if you have done an undergraduate statistics subject, although this workshop can serve as a first introduction or a refresher. The theory behind the statistical procedures will, in general, not be discussed.

A range of statistical analyses will be discussed in the workshop, as described in the outline below. We will talk through examples of all analysis types and will demonstrate how to carry them out in R. Equal emphasis will also be put on interpreting the output of these analyses. There will be plenty of practical work.

Content

You will be expected to watch this seminar on study design and statistical principles (samples and populations, confounding, statistical inference) ahead of the workshop.

Course outline

Revision

• Descriptive statistics – mean, mode, standard deviation, inter-quartile range, correlation
• Data visualisation - boxplot, histogram, scatterplot, bar graph

Introduction to statistical inference

• Uncertainty, confidence intervals, p-values, significance/evidence
• T-test (comparing two groups)
• Checking model assumptions

Analysis of continuous responses with linear models

• Simple linear regression
• ANOVA
• Multiple regression, ANCOVA

Analysis of categorical responses

• Relative risk, odds ratios
• Chi-square test
• Logistic regression

Presenter and Expertise: Peter Humburg, Senior Statistical Consultant, UNSW Stats Central

Date: Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 February 2025

Duration: 9.30am to 4.00pm - each day

Delivery Mode: In-Person ONLY

Location: K-D26-G07 - BioScience G07

You will receive a certificate of completion for the course.

NOTE: You will receive email from us closer to the course date regarding the course materials, please ensure you provide a correct email address.

Course fees:

UNSW Student - $150

UNSW Staff - $580

External Student - $865

External - $1,155

We offered bundle tickets for UNSW Student ONLY with further 10% discount as follows:

• Bundle2: $180 (full price $200)
• Introduction to R: February 3
• Introductory Statistics for Researchers using R: February 5-7

• Bundle3: $315 (full price $350)
• Introduction to R: February 3
• Introductory Statistics for Researchers using R: February 5-7
• Fundamentals of Regression in R: February 11-13

• Bundle4: $405 (full price $450)
• Introduction to R: February 3
• Introductory Statistics for Researchers using R: February 5-7
• Fundamentals of Regression in R: February 11-13
• Plus one of the following advanced courses: You will be notified when the tickets are available!
• Mixed Models using R: May (2 days)
• Meta Analysis: May (2 days)
• Sample Size and Power Calculations: May (2 days)
• Multivariate Statistics Using R: August (2 days)
• Survival: September (2 days)

Course cancellation or postponement policy:

If the course is cancelled or postponed by Stats Central, you have the option to:

1. Keep the funds and enrol in the next available course when it is rescheduled (most preferred option), or
2. Receive a full refund of the ticket price

Note: If you have a funding support and would like to pay by "Internal Funding Payment", please contact us stats.central@unsw.edu.au.** Thank you!

FAQs

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Please send us an email at: stats.central@unsw.edu.au