Hi
A quick advertisement for a trio of statistics courses provided by 
Figure It Out, the statistical consultancy unit at the Institute of Work 
Psychology, University of Sheffield, in June 2009. The courses are 
particularly aimed at researchers, practitioners and postgraduate 
students from the fields of psychology, HR, management, sociology, and 
the social sciences more generally.

Please feel free to forward to anyone you know who may be interested ;-)

- Monday 22nd June, 2009: Multiple Regression Analysis using SPSS
- Tuesday 23rd June, 2009: Multi-level Modelling using SPSS
- Wednesday 24th June, 2009: Introduction to Structural Equation 
Modelling using MPlus

The standard rate for each course is £275, the student rate is £200. If 
you attend two or more of the courses you get a further 50 pound 
discount on the total cost.

Details of the courses are given below: for further information and to 
book a place, go to 
http://www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/FIO/trainingcourses.htm

Courses are also available on an inhouse basis: see 
http://www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/FIO/bespoketraining.htm

cheers
Chris



******* Course details for each course are as follows: *******


-|- Multiple Regression Analysis using SPSS -|-

-|- Monday 22nd June, 2009; 9.45am to 5.15pm, at the Hicks Building, 
University of Sheffield

-|- Who is the course aimed at?
This course is aimed at researchers and post-graduate students in the 
social sciences who want to use multiple regression to analyze their data.

It should appeal to those who have knowledge of basic statistical tests 
and a basic grasp of the ideas of multiple regression but want to gain 
practical experience in fitting regression models, and to those with 
experience of running simple multiple regression analysis who want to 
explore more complex scenarios, such as using dummy variables to include 
categorical predictors, or calculating and entering interaction terms to 
fit moderated regression models.

-|- Course level:
Some previous experience of using SPSS to perform basic statistical 
analysis is expected. No previous experience of running multiple 
regression analysis in SPSS is required, though a basic understanding of 
the principles/motivation for such analyses will be helpful.

-|- Course content and aims:
The course will cover the following topics:
- Standard multiple regression - the theory and assumptions behind 
least-squares fitting
- Running simple regression models in SPSS
- Test statistics and diagnostic plots
- Hierarchical regression strategies; controlling for background variables
- Hierarchical regression strategies; assessing intervening/mediation 
effects
- Incorporating polynomial terms to model non-linear relationships
- Incorporating categorical variables as predictors by using dummy variables
- Testing for interaction ('moderation') effects between continuous 
and/or categorical predictors

-|- Course Format:
The course comprises of a mixture of short lectures on the basic theory 
behind the statistical techniques listed above, teaching via examples 
worked through by the trainer on real data sets which participants can 
follow, and exercises to practice the skills just learned. You will also 
receive a 90-page coursebook containing all the notes and worked 
examples, providing an easy reference and reminder for the techniques 
you have learned

-|- Course schedule:
The course will start at 9.45am, with a lunch break from 1pm-2pm, and 
short coffee breaks at 11.30am and 3.30pm. It will finish at around 5pm, 
though I will be willing to stay on for a while after this and to answer 
questions pertinent to participants' own data sets or any other 
regression queries you may have.

For further information and to book a place, go to 
http://www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/FIO/trainingcourses.htm


***********

-|- Multi-level Modelling using SPSS -|-

Tuesday 23rd June, 2009; 9.45am to 5.15pm, at the Hicks Building, 
University of Sheffield -|-

-|- Who is the course aimed at?
This course is aimed at two distinct groups. It is primarily designed as 
a beginners' course in multi-level modelling (AKA Hierarchical Linear 
Modelling), for those who face the challenge of working with multi-level 
data sets and want to be able to analyse them in the most powerful and 
accurate way.

However it should also appeal to those with a little experience of 
multi-level modelling using other specialist packages who now want to 
learn how to run such models in SPSS using the MIXED MODELS menu and 
commands.

-|- Course level:
A reasonable working knowledge of multiple regression and some previous 
experience of using SPSS to perform statistical analysis is expected. No 
previous experience of multi-level modelling will be assumed.

-|- Course content and aims:
The course will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to multi-level data - what it is and why it requires 
special treatment
- Restructuring Data in preparation for multi-level modelling
- What is a multi-level model?
- Building and fitting a multi-level model in SPSS
- Further issues in multi-level modelling: centering, sample size and 
scaling
- Advanced multi-level models: analysing longitudinal data and 
cross-sectional data using multi-level modelling in SPSS

-|- Course Format:
The course comprises of a mixture of short lectures on the basic theory 
behind multi-level models, teaching via examples worked through by the 
trainer on real data sets which participants can follow, and exercises 
to practice the skills just learned. You will also receive a 60-page 
coursebook containing all the notes and worked examples, providing an 
easy reference and reminder for the techniques you have learned.

-|- Course schedule:
The course will start at 9.45am, with a lunch break from 1pm-2pm, and 
short coffee breaks at 11.30am and 3.30pm. It will finish at around 5pm, 
though I will be willing to stay on for a while after this and to answer 
questions pertinent to participants' own data sets or any other 
multi-level modelling queries you may have.

For further information and to book a place, go to 
http://www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/FIO/trainingcourses.htm


***********


-|- Introduction to Structural Equation Modelling using MPlus -|-

Wednesday 24th June, 2009; 9.45am to 5.15pm, at IWP, University of 
Sheffield -|-

-|- Who is the course aimed at?
This course is aimed at two distinct groups; those seeking a beginners' 
course in Path Analysis techniques such as Structural Equation Modelling 
(SEM) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA); and those with some 
previous experience of Structural Equation Modelling who wish to learn 
to use the powerful and elegant MPlus software, which can be employed in 
an incredibly wide range of model fitting scenarios.

-|- Course level:
A basic knowledge of Exploratory Factor Analysis and the ideas behind 
multiple regression analysis will be advantageous to participants. No 
previous knowledge or experience with SEM or Mplus is assumed

-|- Course content and aims:
The course will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to Path Analysis - what is it and why do we need it?
- Assessing the fit of a Structural Equation Model
- Comparing competing Structural Equation Models
- Preparing and importing data into Mplus from SPSS
- Getting started with analysis in MPlus - the basics of the language
- Fitting a simple Confirmatory Factor Analysis in Mplus
- Fitting a simple Structural Equation Model in Mplus
- Testing for indirect effects in Structural Equation Models
- Fitting Structural Equation Models with missing data
- Including Categorical variables in Structural Equation Models
- Multiple group analysis

-|- Course Format:
The course comprises of a mixture of short lectures on the basic theory 
behind Structural Equation Models, teaching via examples worked through 
by the trainer on real data sets which participants can follow, and 
exercises to practice the skills just learned. You will also receive a 
50-page coursebook containing all the notes and worked examples, 
providing an easy reference for the basics of performing SEM in MPLus, 
and as a reminder for the techniques you have learned.

-|- Course schedule:
The course will start at 9.45am, with a lunch break from 1pm-2pm, and 
short coffee breaks at 11.30am and 3.30pm. It will finish at around 5pm, 
though I will be willing to stay on for a while after this to answer 
questions pertinent to participants' own data sets or any other 
Structural Equation Modelling queries you may have.

For further information and to book a place, go to 
http://www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/FIO/trainingcourses.htm








*** for all three courses above ***

The teacher:
Dr Chris Stride has been using SPSS in his work as a statistician and 
data manager for the last 12 years. He has particular experience and 
expertise in teaching non-statisticians from the fields of psychology, 
HR, management and the social sciences. He is a Chartered Statistician 
and a member of the ASSESS (UK SPSS Users Group) Committee; and has been 
running statistical training courses at the University of Sheffield and 
on an inhouse basis to Universities and Public Sector organisations over 
the past few years.

-- 
Dr Chris Stride, C. Stat, 
Statistician, Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield
Telephone: 0114 2223262
Fax: 0114 2727206
 
“Figure It Out”
Statistical Consultancy and Training Service for Social Scientists

Visit www.figureitout.org.uk for details of my consultancy services and forthcoming training courses in June 2009