Consulting

The Statistical Consulting Unit (SCU) can assist with both experimental design and data analysis.

When Should You Contact Us?

From the beginning of the project! A well designed project can save time, money and maximise the information obtained. We have seen cases of poorly-designed studies from which very little was salvageable.

Collaboration between the statistical consultant and the client will be far more fruitful if the consultant is involved from the beginning of the project.

Protocol

To make an appointment send an email to scu@anu.edu.au giving brief details of your research project and the name(s) of your supervisor(s).

New research students are asked to bring their supervisor(s) to the first consultation. Honours students are asked to bring their supervisor(s) to every consultation.

Guidelines on the organisation of data files is available at http://scu.anu.edu.au/consulting.pdf

Where, as occasionally happens, conflicting advice on statistical matters is received from other sources, the matter should be resolved by discussion between all parties. We are committed to finding the most appropriate solution for the problem at hand.

Telephone Advice

Advice will not ordinarily be given over the phone. In our experience, a 'quick' question often masks a complex research problem, requiring a consultation for discussion of all the issues.

Recommended Texts

A list of recommended texts is available at Library list.pdf

Software Available to Staff and Students

The Division of Information Services (DOI) ANU, has a variety of software packages available to ANU Staff and students at information@anu

The SCU supports and recommends the menu-driven statistical software packages GenStat, SAS, SPSS and Stata as well as the free package R.

Researchers are encouraged to use the statistical package commonly used in their work area to facilitate peer support. 

Cost of purchasing the software from DOI

R – freeware, maybe installed without licensing

Stata – perpetual licence, $176.00, but a new licence will be needed with each version upgrade.

GenStat – a new licence is 150.00 GBP.  The licence expires on 28th February 2010. Student licences (full version) for Honours students and Graduates are free.

SPSS - $37.34 ex GST.  The licence expires on 30th December 2009.

SAS – $80.00 ex GST.  The licence expires at the end of December 2009, it covers SAS and/or JMP.

For details on how to purchase the software see software purchasing.

Please contact the DOI Software office at software@anu.edu.au for information on licensing requirements.

You can contact the SCU for advice on the choice of statistical software for your particular use.