[afro-nets] Data Analysis Training Course

[Alison McLean <mcleanam@health.wits.ac.za>]

Data Analysis Training Course
-----------------------------
 
15th ­ 26th August 2005
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Graduate School, Faculty of Health Sciences
 
The data analysis training course (DATC) is designed to equip 
academics, researchers and postgraduate students with basic con-
cepts of statistics, how to present and process data as a compo-
nent of health sciences research; how to plan research such that 
the data will be suitable for statistical analysis. Participants 
will be able to plan more completely the collection and process-
ing of research data and to apply more appropriately sophisti-
cated statistical tests.
 
The Graduate School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of 
the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is delighted to announce a Data 
Analysis Training Course (DATC) from the 15th ­ 26th August 2005 
 
ON OFFER: A selection of one or more of the following topics 
will be covered in the final programme depending on partici-
pants? needs and interests:
      Use of data processing programmes on the computer
      Review of selected data sets
      How to deal with problems in collected data
      Planning data collection to avoid problems
      Types of data ­ continuous, ordered, categorical 
      Tabulation and means, standard deviation
      Populations and sampling
      Statements of probability
      Difference between means
      Difference of proportions 
      Tests for significance of differences
      Confounding and stratification
      Matched analysis 
      Percentages and paired alternatives
      Use of Statistica, SAS, SPSS and Epi-Info as statistical 
      tools
      Statistical tests: exact probability test, rank sum tests,
      Mac Nemar test, correlation and simple regression
      Advanced data analysis i.e. ANOVA, logistic and multiple 
      regression
      Data presentation & writing peer reviewed scientific pa-
      pers
      Site visits to selected research entities and discussion 
      with researchers on how they manage and analyse their data
      sets
      Networking with other academics, researchers and post-
      graduate students
 
FEES: Tuition fees to participate in the DATC are ZAR 5,000 ex-
clusive of travel costs to the venue in Johannesburg, accommoda-
tion and board expenses. Prospective participants should apply 
to WHO, UNDP, EU, UNAIDS, SIDA, CDC, Belgian Technical Agency, 
Research Institutions, Ministries of Health etc that have funded 
such programmes in the past. Each application should include a 
clearly articulated motivation that indicates that the applicant 
would benefit from the training. 
 
ELIGIBILITY & TEACHING METHODOLOGY: The Data Analysis Training 
Course (DATC) is planned for 16 participants with demonstrated 
previous experience in protocol design and preferably have ex-
isting data sets that they intend to learn to analyse. Full com-
puter facilities will be available although participants are en-
couraged to bring own laptops to undertake assignments given af-
ter hours. In addition, participants are required to prepare and 
send their data sets three weeks in advance of the course to fa-
cilitate acquisition of appropriate software and uploading into 
the DATC computers. This is a hands on training course that will 
be facilitated by experts with experience in data management and 
statistical analysis. Participants attending the course will ac-
quire skills to analyse their data and present in tabular and/or 
graphical format as well as apply relevant statistical analysis 
for scientific publications. The final programme will be based 
on the needs of the participants who are expected to take re-
sponsibility for their own learning by doing. There will be 
minimal didactic teaching.
 
LIMITED REGISTRATION: 16 places are available and these will be 
allocated to eligible applicants on a first-come-first-served 
basis. The courses are being advertised far and wide, so hurry 
and get your registration forms in NOW!
 
Apply directly, preferably by fax or e-mail, with a short de-
scription (1 page) of your current professional qualifications 
and motivation to participate to:
 
Tsitsi Mkombe 
Tel: +27-11-274-9285
Fax: +27-11-274-9287
mailto:tmkombe@sahart.co.za
 
 
--
Application Form
 
Please fill this form and return it with a one page motivation 
for wanting to participate and before closing date.
 
I would like to apply for a vacancy in the Data Analysis Train-
ing Course 15th -26th August 2005
 
Deadline for receipt of applications: 30th June 2005
 
Title: Professor Dr Mrs Ms Mr (Circle appropriate)
 
Surname: 
 
First Names: 
 
Position:
 
School/Department/Institution:
 
Mailing Address: 
 
Phone: 
Fax: 
 
Cell phone: 
 
Email: 
 
How will you pay for the course?
 
Self-Funded:
 
Have Sponsorship: 
 
Name of Sponsor: 
 
I have an existing dataset that I would like to work on during 
the course: 
Yes   [ ]         No    [ ]
 
NB: Briefly describe the study design and major elements of the 
dataset to be analysed during the course.