Statistical Consulting to Behavioral Scientists

LecturersProf. Dr. E. Dusseldorp (coordinator) and Dr. M.G.E. Verdam and Dr. R. Koçer
DatesThu, March 13: 11:00-17:30 (Leiden University)
Fri, March 14: 9:30-17:00 (Leiden University)
Fri, April 18: 10:00-15:00 (online; in two parts)
Fri, May 23: 10:00-17:00 (Leiden University)
VenueLeiden University  
Mandatory/ElectiveMandatory 

Students that have taken the following courses are exempt:
LU: Statistical Consulting (Statistical Science)
UvA: Behavioural Data Science Toolbox and Internship Data-Driven Consultancy
UU: Consultation shop RM consultations

To request an exemption for this course, kindly send an email to secretariaat@iops.nl along with evidence of the completed courses.
 ECTS3
Target groupIOPS-dissertation students. The minimum number of participants is 6 and the maximum is 16. Dissertation students who have done the master courses on Statistical Consulting of the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University or Leiden are exempt.
 Objectives

After this course, the participant is able to:

  • Distinguish between different types of statistical consultation;
  • Identify and recognize issues in a client project relevant for a statistical consultant, such as: research question, study design, sampling procedure, and measurement instruments;
  • Identify and recognize possible pitfalls and/or ethical issues relevant for a statistical consultant;
  • Choose and apply (an) appropriate analysis technique(s) to answer the client’s research question(s);
  • Effectively communicate the choice of analysis technique, the statistical assumptions, the analysis results and how these answer the research question to the client (orally and briefly in writing);
FormatThe participants choose one real client project (in a substantive field; client has limited knowledge of statistics) before the course starts; the topics are known Feb 27, 2025. The participants work in pairs on one client project. They perform three consultancy interviews with their client (part of the other participants observe these interviews); the end product is an extended abstract and a script with comments for the client; Furthermore, we provide videos, topics for classroom discussions, and interactive lectures.
LiteratureSeveral articles on topics related to statistical consultancy and communication about statistics, distributed during the course.
PrerequisitesStatistics and methodology at the level of the Dutch master programs in the behavioral and social sciences.
WorkloadWorkload: 4 hours of preparation (before start); 22 contact hours; 50 hours of problem solving, analyses, and writing script; 8 hours of writing abstract;
Course feeThe course fee is free for IOPS students. For non-IOPS students: please contact the secretariat.
RegistrationRegister before Feb 20, 2025, by sending an email to secretariaat@iops.nl
ExaminationAttendance