In our department, experimental research is becoming more and more common. Doing experimental research and analyzing data requires some knowledge about methodology and statistics.

Statistical consultation – who is it for?

For ILS researchers we have a statistics adviser, to help guide you through the abundant possibilities and resources and advise you on research design, and which methods and statistical analysis to use. The statistics advisor is Kirsten Schutter.

If you are a BA, MA or RMA student in need of statistical advice, you should be getting it from your supervisor, not from the statistics adviser.

Tip: Kirsten organizes monthly meetings where researchers can present and discuss their quantitative research design. Research master students can sign up for these events to present and discuss their design. These meetings are announced in the ILS newsletter.

How does statistical consultation work?

What to expect when you make an appointment with our statistics adviser

To get an overview of your study, the following topics will (have to) be discussed:

• Methodology: What does your research design look like? This includes your research question, hypotheses/predictions, research population, variables of interest, operationalization of variables.
• Statistics: What type of analysis do you need in order to answer your research question(s)? If you have already collected data: Is your data appropriate for answering your research question and the desired statistical analysis?

The extent to which these topics need to be discussed depends on the stage your study is in, and your level of methodological and statistical knowledge/skills. You can expect the statistics adviser to help you:

• Optimize your research question;
• Create a study design that is optimal for answering your research question;
• Decide on the appropriate statistical analysis;
• Decide what statistical software to use (e.g., SPSS or R);
• Interpret the results of statistical analyses;
• Find relevant literature and/or (online) courses on methodology/statistics.

This implies that:

• You should have some basic statistical knowledge to build on. Some references to get you started can be found below.
• If you do not (yet) have a lot of statistical knowledge it is recommended that you avoid formulating complicated research questions that require advanced statistical modeling. The statistics adviser can look through your questions with you to check that you have adequate knowledge to deal with them.
• Even though the statistics adviser provides help and coaching, you as a researcher bear full responsibility for your study, including any methodological and statistical aspects. This implies that you should familiarize yourself with the methodological and statistical topics that concern your study. You can of course ask the statistics adviser for references, but you are expected to also look for any relevant literature yourself, and digest it. You should not expect the statistics adviser to take over the statistical part of your study, or to teach you complicated methods that go beyond your own knowledge.

Statistics Modules

This set of modules offers you and introduction into common concepts in statistics, helps you find the correct way to analyse your data and helps you to apply these methods in both SPSS and R. The modules are written by Laura Boeschoten, and are still under development. If you have any remarks, please let the current statistics advisor know. The modules are based on the following literature:

• Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2008). Statistics for the behavioral sciences, 6th edition. London: Thomson Wadsworth.
• Peck, R., & Devore, J. (2008). Statistics, The exploration and Analysis of Data, 6th edition. Belmont: Thomson Brooks/Cole.
• Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics, 4th edition. London: Sage.
• Field, A., Miles, J. & Field, Z. (2012). Discovering statistics using R. London: Sage.

The datasets used in the modules are provided by Andy Field.

Please note that the modules are mainly for reference after a consultation with the statistics adviser; as noted in the how-to for planning an experiment.