Research Services offers tutorials and workshops on a variety of topics. Each semester, we present a series of tutorials. If you have suggestions, please contact us听(researchservices@bc.edu). We are also available for consulting.听
Tutorial Descriptions - Fall 2024
Intro to Stata 1: Getting Started, Descriptive Stats & Do Files
Stata is a powerful, yet easy-to-use statistical package. This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who are just getting started using Stata. The emphasis in this tutorial is on exploring the data, cleaning the data for research purposes, and generating descriptive Statistics.
- Accessing Stata on 51茶馆 Apps: You will receive instructions on how to do this prior to the tutorial.
- Loading data
- Data manipulation
- Descriptive statistics
- Do-files and log files
Presented by Eric Wiliiamson.
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Monday, September 16, 2024 from 10 - 11:30am (Zoom)
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Introduction to Machine Learning
Machine learning is a data analysis method of getting computers to act without being explicitly programmed. It is based on the algorithms that use statistics to build models and find patterns in massive amounts of data. Machine Learning is extensively used in a wide variety of applications and changing our day-to-day life.听听
This tutorial is for beginners to learn and will cover:
- Introduction/Definition
- Where and Why Machine Learning is used
- Types of Learning
- Supervised Learning
- Unsupervised Learning
Presented by Yixin听Pan.
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Monday, September 16, 2024 from 11:30am - 12:30pm听(Zoom)
Introduction to 51茶馆鈥檚 Linux Cluster
This tutorial is intended to be an introduction to the Linux cluster at Boston College. Currently, the user can access the cluster of Andromeda. An overview, the primary components, and examples of how to use 51茶馆鈥檚 Linux cluster.
This hands-on tutorial will cover:
- Overview of the Andromeda Linux cluster system at Boston College
- The hardware architecture
- Management of Linux Cluster
- How to remote access the cluster
- Common Unix/Linux commands
- How to use software modules and SLURM queuing system
- How to submit jobs to cluster
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Presented by Wei Qiu.
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Monday, September 16, 2024 from 1 鈥� 2:30pm听(Zoom)
Introduction to Regression
As the most common methodology in statistical analysis, regression is an important tool for any modern researcher. This course is intended as an introduction to standard or linear regression.听 We will focus on estimation methods, identifying and validating model assumptions. We will also focus on hypothesis testing for regression estimates and statistical model building. We will use R software but the goal of the course is to learn concepts and is not intended as a tutorial for any specific software.
Note: The mixed modeling course is a natural sequel to Introduction to Regression.听
Presented by Matt Gregas.
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Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 10听 鈥� 11:30am听(Zoom)
Linear Mixed Effects Modeling
This tutorial is a brief introduction to linear mixed effects (LME) modeling, also known as multilevel modeling or hierarchical linear modeling. LME models are essential for researchers handling either longitudinal (repeated measures) data or data that is hierarchical (e.g. students nested within classrooms, and classrooms nested within schools). Many familiar methods such as ANOVA or regression assume that all observations are recorded independently; Clustered data and data with repeated measures violate this assumption. LME modeling is an extension of regression that accounts for the correlated data structure inherent in repeated-measures and clustered designs. In this tutorial, we introduce the model, discuss when and why this method should be used, and how to interpret results in common statistical programs. This tutorial is appropriate for anyone with a background in linear regression. Those wanting a refresher may consider attending the Research Services tutorial on regression immediately preceding this tutorial.
Presented by Melissa McTernan.
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Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 12 - 1:30pm听(Zoom)
Python For Everyone
This tutorial is designed for beginners with no prior experience in programming with Python. From this tutorial, you will gain a foundational understanding of Python, one of the most popular and versatile programming languages today. You'll also learn how to use Jupyter Notebook, a powerful tool for writing and running Python code interactively.
During this session, we鈥檒l discuss:
- The basics of Python.
- How to write and execute Python code in Jupyter Notebook.
- Essential programming concepts.
- Hands-on practice with guided exercises to solidify your learning.
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Presented by Yixin Pan.
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Monday, September 30, 2024 from 11am - 12pm听(Zoom)
Intro to Stata 2: Graphing, Dataset Combining, Linear Regression, Stat/Transfer
Stata is a powerful, yet easy-to-use statistical package. This hands-on tutorial is designed as an introduction for beginning users who are just getting started using Stata. The emphasis in this tutorial is on basic graphing, merging data, and linear regression.
- Basic graphing and graph editor
- Combining multiple datasets
- Linear Regression in Stata
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Presented by Eric Williamson.
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Monday, September 30, 2024 from 1 - 2:30pm听(Zoom)
Introduction to REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture)
This tutorial is geared towards Boston College Principal Investigators, researchers, and research project team managers. REDCap stands for Research Electronic Data Capture. REDCap is a web-based, data collection, database management system that was originally developed at Vanderbilt University, initially for medical research. REDCap is now overseen by a consortium of academic research partners in the United States and throughout the world. Boston College is part of the REDCap consortium.
In this introduction to REDCap we will discuss:
- How to request a REDCap project at Boston College
- How to make sure that your REDCap project complies with the mandates of your project's IRB approval
- How to create basic data collection forms
- An introduction to best practices for setting up your REDCap project
- We will discuss additional REDCap functionality including offline survey capabilities, text to voice capability, potential for using twilio.com SMS services (for an additional fee), improved field calculations, repeating forms and more
- How to enter data into REDCap
- How to control REDCap user access rights
- How to export your data
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Research Services staff are available to meet with members of the Boston College community to discuss individual REDCap projects. Individual consultations or customized class consultations are available by emailing researchservices@bc.edu or dalgin@bc.edu.
If possible, prior to the tutorial, please fill out the 51茶馆 REDCap Terms of Use survey described on the google doc below and indicate that you will be attending the REDCap Tutorial.
Presented by Rani Dalgin.
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Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 1 - 2:30pm听(Zoom)
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Developing and Administering Public Surveys in REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture)
Public surveys are a powerful part of REDCap and are critical to researchers in collecting primary data for various research designs. This tutorial is geared toward Boston College principal Investigators, researchers, and research project team managers. We will demonstrate the features of REDCap that are used most frequently to administer public surveys. People attending this survey should have at least a basic familiarity with setting up projects in REDCap.
In this beginner to intermediate level REDCap tutorial we will discuss:
- Main project settings
- Survey distribution including Automated Survey Invitations (ASI)
- Survey workflows
- Optional modules and customizations
- Survey settings
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This tutorial was developed by Viktoriya Babicheva, 51茶馆 REDCap Administrator and Research Data Consultant & Acquisition Analyst from Research Services with input from Kristen Dhanekula and Amanda Miller, REDCap Administrators, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Presented by Viktoriya Babichev.
Rani Dalgin, Manager, Data Acquisition and Consultation and Lead REDCap and Qualtrics Administrator for Boston College will also be available to answer questions.
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Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 2:30 - 4pm听(Zoom)
Creating Web-Based Surveys with Qualtrics
Qualtrics offers a fairly intuitive graphical user interface to create complex surveys without complicated programming or coding. Qualtrics offers extensive documentation, free online tutorials, an extensive library of surveys and options for encryption and anonymity, and excellent customer support. Qualtrics also offers built in social media sharing functions and an accessibility checker. Working within pre-defined templates, you can use many different types of questions, including text, multiple checkboxes, sliders, single-answer radio buttons, and Likert scales. Qualtrics offers extensive branching functionality.
Once the survey is completed, data can be downloaded into a format that can be used with a variety of quantitative and qualitative analysis programs. Qualtrics also offers foreign language functionality.
This tutorial will demonstrate how to create a survey in Qualtrics and also include a section on research protections and informed consent with respect to online survey development, distribution, and analysis. Boston College faculty, students, researchers, and administrative staff may create their own Qualtrics accounts in advance of the tutorial by logging on at bostoncollege.qualtrics.com (with your 51茶馆 credentials).
If possible, please complete the听short 51茶馆 Qualtrics Terms of Use Survey听below before attending the tutorial.
Research Services staff are available to meet with members of the Boston College community to discuss individual Qualtrics projects.
Individual consultations or customized class consultations are available by emailing researchservices@bc.edu or dalgin@bc.edu.
Presented by Rani Dalgin.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2024 from 2 - 3:30pm听 (Zoom)
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Introduction to JMP Software
JMP (pronounced 鈥渏ump鈥�) is point-and-click statistical software designed for researchers, scientists, and engineers. Its comprehensive capabilities support many uses, from basic graphing and analysis through advanced statistical modeling and machine learning, and its interactive, graph-first interface makes it a strong teaching tool, too. JMP was first launched in 1989 and is used widely in both academia and industry.
Get JMP free for academic teaching, learning, and research at: www.jmp.com/student
On Nov. 12, a JMP technical expert will visit Boston College to offer a workshop on a selection of data visualization and analysis techniques in JMP. All are welcome to attend.
12 鈥� 1pm: Getting started with JMP听
- Navigating the interface听
- Foundational graphing and analysis听
- Producing publication-quality graphs听
- Importing data, saving and sharing work
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1:05 鈥� 1:45pm: Linear regression听
- Regression modeling fundamentals听
- Generalized linear models听
- Mixed models
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1:50 鈥� 2:30pm: Multivariate methods听
- Principal component analysis (PCA)听
- Structural equation modeling (SEM)听
- Clustering
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Presented by Ross Metuslam, JMP Academic Ambassador.
- Feel free to email ross.metusalem@jmp.com with any questions or comments before and/or after the event.听www.jmp.com/academic
Registration will be capped to first 25.
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JMP庐 Statistical Software Workshop: Nov. 12, 2024 from 12 鈥� 2:30 p.m. (O鈥橬eill 254)
Registration will be capped to first 25.