Research Methods Talks

About

The CTRL Research Methods Talk Series, which we are launching this fall, offers opportunities to learn about various topics related to research methods. Research Methods Talks may cover a broad range of topics, such as: research methodologies, software, research design, data collection, data analysis, data visualization, and innovative techniques. The talks may take on either a workshop format or facilitate discussion and sharing among AU faculty about their own research projects. Sessions, which are 75 minutes long, are designed to be responsive to the needs of faculty: topics can be submitted by as early as two weeks in advance, and the event can be scheduled anytime that best meets the needs of the faculty. If you have ideas or topics for this series, please send them to ctrl@american.edu.

Fall 2019

Research Methods Talk: Open House for Faculty

Tuesday, November 19, 2019 | 06:00 – 08:00 p.m. | Mary Graydon Center (MGC) 328

Eric R. Schuler (Quantitative/Computational Research Methodologist, CTRL) & Bill Harder (Qualitative/Survey Research Methodologist)

Join our evening open-house and discuss your current and future research and scholarship. We are here for questions about research design, data collection, management, and various approaches for quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods analysis/visualization.

Research Methods Talk: Survey of Spacial Statistics Platforms

Monday, October 21, 2019 | 11:20 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. | Mary Graydon Center (MGC) 245

Eric R. Schuler (Quantitative/Computational Research Methodologist, CTRL) & Meagan Snow (Program Director for Geospatial Research Support, University Library)

Have you heard of spatial statistics but do not know where to start? Do you have spatial data but are unsure what to do with it? This workshop provides an overview on spatial statistics and the different avenues to run statistics on spatial data. In this talk we will discuss four software platforms that can run spatial statistics, each of which has different levels of functionality. We will provide an overview of each platform and the spatial statistics tools that it offers to help you determine which is most beneficial to fit your research needs.

Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of this research methods talk, attendees will be able to:

  • Describe spacial statistics
  • Recognize different domains related spatial statistics
  • Compare and contrast functionality of the different software platforms
  • Source support and access the relevant software

Power Analyses: Conceptual and Applications

Thursday, September 5 | 11:20 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. | Mary Graydon Center (MGC) 245

Eric R. Schuler (Center for Teaching, Research & Learning)

You have your research project in mind, the significance section of the grant is ready… then you are asked ‘have you conducted a power analysis?’… and the panic sets in… Having adequate statistical power is an important component to consider before collected data. In this talk we will discuss power conceptually and walk through the process of different ways to conducting a power analysis using R. Although we be using R, a number of other statistical software will be discussed and compared.

Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of this research methods talk, attendees will be able to:

  • Explain what statistical power is and what factors impact power.
  • Extract information needed to run a power analysis.
  • Compare different approaches of determining adequate sample size.
  • Conduct a power analysis with example code.

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