Course: Introduction to statistical modelling and data analysis in R

27 May 2021
markus-spiske
27 May 2021

The Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation (SEEC) at the University of Cape Town, in partnership with the ACCESS Global Change Emerging Researcher Network (GCERN), is presenting an online short course in statistical data analysis and experimental design using R. The course aims to equip participants with practical experience and skills in analysing data, using some statistical techniques frequently used in the sciences. The skills include designing experiments, choosing appropriate statistical methods for visual display and statistical modelling of data, model checking, interpretation and reporting of statistical results, and understanding limitations of statistical methods and data. The course uses the R statistical package throughout but we do not assume prior knowledge of this package. 

The course is targeting research students or scientists that require these skills for their work. There is space for a maximum of 80 participants. 

The three-day course will cover the following broad topics (see next page for more details):

    • Introduction to the course and statistical modelling

    • Regression

    • Design and analysis of experiments

    • Generalized linear models

The course will assume basic knowledge of statistical analysis fundamentals such as the ideas of variability of observations and samples, probability distributions, and the basic principles of hypothesis testing. It will be preferable that you have done at least a 1st year university level statistics course (if you need to brush up then please visit a web resource such as this example: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-statistics). The course will be run online so you will need your own computer with the latest version of the R Statistical package and R-Studio. If you have no prior experience with R, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the basics, e.g. through the free online course on DataCamp.

The course fee is R3000 for all participants. ACCESS-GCERN will fund the course fees for 15 staff/students associated with the ACCESS programme. 

All those who would like to take the course should apply for a place using this form.

  • Deadline for applications is 13 June 2021 and applications will be dealt with on a first come first served basis. Spaces are limited. Applying for the course will be taken as a commitment to pay the course fees if you are accepted. This means that you and/or your institution will be liable for full payment unless you withdraw in writing (to vervis@gmail.com) before the payment deadline. No withdrawals will be considered after the payment deadline and no-shows will be required to pay the costs in full.

  • Deadline for payment is Sunday 27 June 2021. 

  • Note that should payment not be received by the payment deadline, then we reserve the right to allocate your place to someone else. You are still liable for the course fee if the place is not filled.

  • Where payment through official employment channels is slow, please apply early.

For queries please contact Dr Neville Sweijd (nsweijd@access.ac.za) or Dr Vernon Visser (vervis@gmail.com).

Course Outline

Module 0: Introduction to course and statistical modelling

 

Module 1: Regression

Work unit 1: Correlation and simple regression 

Work unit 2: Multiple linear regression

Work unit 3: Extensions of the linear model

Work unit 4: Model Selection

 

Module 2: Design and analysis of experiments

Work unit 1: Introduction to experimental design

Work unit 2: Completely randomized designs

Work unit 3: Randomized Block Designs

Work unit 4: Factorial Experiments

 

Module 3: Generalized linear models 

Work unit 1: Introduction to generalized linear models

Work unit 2: Logistic regression

Work unit 3: Poisson regression