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The University of Queensland Social Research Centre (UQSRC) provides Statistical Advising and Training Services to academic staff and higher degree research students in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at The University of Queensland. This service can help you by providing advice on research design and data analysis issues.
Statistical Advising and Training Service
The Statistical Advising and Training Service is available throughout the year and advising covers all phases of research projects:
· design of research studies
· design for data collection
· analysis of data, including statistical modeling
· interpretation and presentation of results
This service also offers “drop-in statistics clinics” (DiSCs) on a regular basis and a workshop series on Quantitative Research Methods:
Staff
The advising and training service is staffed by experienced statistical advisers who have a sound knowledge of theoretical statistics and extensive experience in the application of statistical methods across a broad range of disciplines. It is encouraged that you attend the workshops and regular DiSCs for information on statistical techniques.
The team:
Dr Temesgen Kifle, Lecturer in Statistical Methods, provides statistical advice on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and will oversee the DiSCs.
Mr Will Probert, Research Assistant in Statistical Methods, assists with the DiSCs and the statistical advising as required.
Dr Michele Haynes, Senior Lecturer in Statistical Methods is the co-ordinator of this service
Protocol
To make an appointment to receive advice for your research project please contact Dr Kifle at t.kifle@uq.edu.au. You will be asked to complete a registration form. Please note that it might take a longer time than expected to get an appointment, so plan in advance for a timely consultation.
It is important to be aware that the Statistical Advising and Training Service does not include the implementation of data analysis or any statistical computations. It is the responsibility of the person concerned to undertake their own data analysis.
An important function of UQSRC is to improve the quality of training in research design and methods for data collection and analysis. UQSRC provides courses in research methods as professional development courses for the public and private sectors and as part of the University of Queensland program in research methods for postgraduate students. These are described below.
On behalf of the Faculty of Social Sciences, UQSRC coordinates the Graduate Certificate in Research Methods to provide postgraduate research students and others with systematic research training in qualitative and quantitative research techniques. The Graduate Certificate consists of introductory courses that overview social science research methodology, along with more specialised courses in quantitative and qualitative techniques.
The program quickly and effectively equips PhD students in the social sciences with the research skills to produce internationally competitive research. Students gain a strong foundation in the range of research methods used in the social sciences, and can select a structured set of courses individually tailored to research needs. Students may concentrate on either qualitative or quantitative research methods to advanced levels, or may choose to examine a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The program covers a broad range of methods and pursues research methods to adanced levels. This is of particular benefit to PhD students wishing to take advantage of concurrent enrolment, and to individuals employed in jobs requiring real skills in research methods and formal qualifications. For more information click here.
Courses available in the research methods program cover the following areas:
· Research design; quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis; research report writing.
· The design of social surveys; problem specification; instrument construction; methods of survey administration; sampling; piloting; fieldwork; scaling and multiple indicators.
· Concepts and techniques of advanced quantitative data analysis including models and techniques for the analysis of bivariate and multivariate data.
· Qualitative techniques for observing and recording human behaviour in social settings; specialised interviewing; direct observation; focus group methodologies; techniques for the analysis of non-numerical data.
Professional Development Courses
The Centre is also able to provide many of these courses as a program of professional development for policy makers and analysts in Queensland public sector agencies as well as for those involved in data collection and data analysis in private sector organizations. The program involves an emphasis on the understanding and sophisticated use of quantitative social data in research, policy development and planning. UQSRC is also able to provide tailored training courses, seminars, and secondments as a vehicle for developing synergies in applied social science research across the University and the public and private sectors.
UQSRC also provides a repository of Australian and international data prepared by the Australian Social Science Data Archives at the Australian National University together with electronic data provided by various government and private organizations. UQSRC also generates data through its primary data collection activities. Postgraduate students and social science researchers affiliated with the Centre may access these data through remote computer accounts on the Centre server.
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