Spring School 2011, 4 - 8 April
2011
Communicating Statistical Results: Effective Presentation of Relationships and Effects
The title for the 2011 Spring School is 'Communicating Statistical Results: Effective Presentation of Relationships and Effects'.
Course tutors will be Robert Andersen and David Armstrong.
In a departure from its usual format of a week of intensive short courses, the Spring School 2011 is a five-day course. Given the cumulative nature of the course material, participants will need to attend from the start and it is not possible to register for just part of the course.
Course Description
Statistical methods commonly employed by social scientists have become increasingly complex as computers have become more powerful. Often, however, the results of these methods are poorly displayed. For example, a preponderance of published research focuses only on model coefficients even when taken alone—i.e., without further calculations—they have very little intuitive meaning aside from telling us whether a relationship is positive or negative. This practice is even more problematic for models containing interactions among predictors, which results in coefficients that cannot be effectively interpreted independently. The complexity of model coefficients is further magnified when nonlinear models are fitted. In short, model coefficients alone rarely tell the story effectively. With this in mind, this course deals with various methods for effectively displaying results from statistical analyses. In particular, we will demonstrate how relationships, differences, and effects can be clearly communicated using tables and graphs of fitted values derived from statistical models.
The course will start with a discussion about how to effectively display distributions and relationships. Particular emphasis in this regard will be placed on density estimation. We will also discuss general principles for designing good graphs and tables. We will then focus on how to effectively display results from generalized linear models and related methods. Specific topics to be discussed will be substantive significance, predicted values and confidence bounds, contrasts, marginal and partial effects, model fit and selection, and interactions. Similar procedures for multi-level models, especially with respect to understanding effects from different levels, will also be explored. All of the analyses for the course will be done using R, which has exceptional graphical capabilities. No prior knowledge of R is assumed, however.
Course Schedule
Monday: (morning) Crash Course in R; and (afternoon) Making Good Graphs
Tuesday: (morning) Density Estimation and Descriptives; and (afternoon) Displaying Multivariate Data
Wednesday (morning): Presenting Linear Model Effects; and (afternoon) GLM Theory
Thursday: (morning): GLMs and Predicted Probabilities; and (afternoon) Effects from Models with Multi-category Response Variables
Friday: (morning): Model Selection; and (afternoon) Conclusion / Wrap-up
pdfInstructors
Robert Andersen
Robert Andersen is Professor of Sociology and Political Science at the University of Toronto. His general teaching and research interests are in political sociology, social stratification and social statistics. His recent research explores the relationship between economic inequality and political attitudes and behaviours in cross-national perspective. Recent published research includes Modern Methods for Robust Regression (Sage, 2008), and articles in the Annual Review of Sociology, American Journal of Political Science, American Sociological Review, and Sociological Methodology. In terms of teaching, Professor Andersen has given lectures, workshops and courses on advanced statistical methods at various venues, including the ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods, SPIDA at York University and the Oxford Spring School.
David Armstrong
David Armstrong is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. His research and teaching interests include democratic measurement, state repression and quantitative methods. He has taught numerous courses including 'Modern Regression' and 'Introduction to R' courses at the ICPSR Summer Program at the University of Michigan, 'Improving Regression Analysis' at the Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis and Collection, and 'Structural Equation Models for Panel Data' at the Oxford Spring School. His research has been published in the American Journal of Political Science, American Political Science Review, American Sociological Review, Electoral Studies and Political Geography.
Costs
- Participants from academic institutions: £610
- Participants from non-academic institutions: £980
Unfortunately we are no longer able to offer a discounted rate to members of ECPR institutions. However, you may be able to apply to the ECPR scholarship fund. The appropriate form is now available on the ECPR website. Please note that the deadline for applications is 31 January 2011. Please address any queries to the ECPR and not to the Oxford Spring School.
The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is offering training bursaries up to £1000 to enable staff in the UK social science community engaged in research, teaching research methods or supervising research to update their skills. Contract researchers working in HEIs are also eligible for the bursaries. Please note that the bursary scheme is open for applications throughout the year i.e. there are no deadlines for applications. For further information about the bursaries and to apply please see http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/about/funding/training/
Accommodation
Standard accommodation is available in Mansfield College, Oxford. These rooms are available on a first come first served basis for 1-6 nights (3-8 April inclusive). Mansfield College is situated a 0.5 km (10 minute) walk from the Manor Road Building.
Standard rooms at Mansfield College are single study bedrooms with shared bathroom facilities, but all rooms contain hand-basins. These bedrooms are provided with internet connection, telephone and tea and coffee making facilities. Breakfast is included in the price.
Standard price (please enquire if you require fewer than 4 nights):
- 4 nights (Monday 4 -Thursday 7 April inclusive): £216.68
- 5 nights (Sunday 3 - Thursday 7 April inclusive): £268.35
- 5 nights (Monday 4 - Friday 8 April inclusive): £268.35
- 6 nights (Sunday 3 - Friday 8 April inclusive): £320.02
En-suite accommodation is also available in Mansfield College, Oxford. These rooms are available on a first come first served basis for 1-6 nights (3-8 April inclusive).
En-suite rooms are study bedrooms with wash-basin, shower and WC. These bedrooms are provided with internet connection, telephone and tea and coffee making facilities. Breakfast is included in the price.
En-suite price (please enquire if you require fewer than 4 nights):
- 4 nights (Monday 4 - Thursday 7 April inclusive): £266.68
- 5 nights (Sunday 3 - Thursday 7 April inclusive): £330.85
- 5 nights (Monday 4 - Friday 8 April inclusive): £330.85
- 6 nights (Sunday 3 - Friday 8 April inclusive): £395.02
Please indicate on the registration form if you would like accommodation during the course and also your room preference. Full payment for accommodation must be received by Friday 11 March.
If you would like to make your own arrangements to stay in Oxford, you can find information about accommodation in Oxford on the Oxford City website or on the Oxford Daily Information website. Please note that the cost of college accommodation provided by Spring School is among the cheaper options.
Registration
Registration for this course closed at noon on Monday 7 February 2011.
Please familiarise yourself with our important correspondence dates and deadlines.
Acceptance emails, including details of how to pay, will be sent to all registrants as soon as possible, and certainly by Monday 21 Februrary. Please note that we must receive all payment by Friday 11 March. If payment is not received by 11 March and the course is over-subscribed we reserve the right to offer your place to someone on the waiting list. Please note, prior to your booking being accepted, we must receive both confirmation from you that you intend to come on the course and payment in full.