Statistical Service Center Service
An important part of the function of the Department of Statistics at WSU is to provide statistical service to all members of the university system. The support provided by the Department takes on a variety of forms including:- Assistance is provided on the application of standard statistical methods, including the design and analysis of experiments and assistance with the use of statistical computer packages and data base management.
- Service on advisory committees for graduate students in other departments.
- The development of statistical methods for analyzing experimental data that do not fit traditional methods.
- Ongoing collaboration by members of the Department in research projects where development of new statistical techniques play an integral role in the project.
Policies Regarding Statistical Services
Assistance may be obtained by calling the Department office at 335-8645 for an appointment. Some computer assistance is available by phone but most questions require personal interaction. Nearly all statistical questions will involve a personal appointment.
Consultees are expected to provide reimbursement to the Department of Statistics for assistance. Cost per hour of programmer and statistician time may be obtained by calling the Department office. We expect that provisions be made in funded research projects for statistical consulting. Graduate students may choose to register in Stat 600 instead of paying per hour. This credit need not be taken during the semester in which assistance is provided.
Consulting with a Statistician
Before the Consultation Session
- Be knowledgeable in your own subject matter.
- Prepare and supply a precise list of background material describing the research project’s logic and goals.
- Prepare a shopping list of questions that you want answered during the session.
- Set realistic goals for the session. Don’t expect to solve every problem.
- Take notes, particularly referring to why certain things are being done, how to report findings and future directions to be considered.
- Assume the statistician knows nothing about your subject area and explain intricacies of the research undertaken as if you were describing it to a child.
- Have the statistician explain any term, idea, or mechanism that is not crystal clear. Consultants have been known to use big words to impress people. Let him/her impress you even more by explaining things in plain language.
- Allow for the possibility that some questions may be immediately unanswerable but can be tackled in time.
- If you disagree with an approach being suggested, say so. Statisticians rarely bite and, in any case, usually aren’t rabid.
- Remain aware that mistakes WILL be made by both parties during the discussion. That’s what research is all about and misstatement should not be considered a shortcoming on anyone’s part.
- Summarize, in a note to yourself, what transpired during the session. Highlight progress made and work to be done before the next session. Optional: send a copy to the statistician for comments.
- If working in a team environment, describe to the others in as complete detail as possible what transpired during the session and what progress is being made.
- As the work progresses and your research of current literature continues, pay special attention to any articles which detail a new or innovative use of statistical methodologies in your project area and bring these to the attention of the statistician.
STAT 600 - Special Projects/Independent Study
(Requirements effective January 1, 2001)Students in Stat 600 are expected to meet with a Statistics faculty member to:
- discuss the application of statistics to research projects of interest.
- to receive guidance for independent study in a topic in statistics.
Students are also expected to:
- for each credit of Stat 600 in which the student is enrolled, attend at least one seminar having substantial statistical content, which may be offered by any department at WSU or UI and write a brief report about the experience. Details about seminars sponsored by WSU Statistics can be found at: http://www.stat.wsu.edu/seminars/seminars.asp. In addition, the student must write a report indicating how the statistical consulting received has been incorporated into the student’s research project or thesis.
OR
- with the instructor’s permission, for each credit hour enrolled, read at least two approved papers having substantial statistical content and write a brief report on each paper read. In addition, the student must, write a report indicating how the statistical consulting received has been incorporated into the student’s research project or thesis.
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