Nonparametric Statistics
Dr. Peter SprentAim of Course:
This introduction to nonparametric methods teaches you how to perform a range of statistical analyses that do not assume that data are samples from pre-specified families of distribution such as the normal or exponential. Course participants will learn how to implement a variety of rank based and other test and estimation procedures for univariate data from observational studies or designed experiments, also methods for correlation and linear regression for bivariate data. More advanced procedures including smoothing techniques for large data sets will also be introduced.Who Should Take This Course:
Researchers in the physical, life or social sciences, pharmacology, medicine, management, market research, who deal with data that do not conform to assumptions such as normality needed for validity of standard parametric procedures; in particular, those analysts who must publish the results of studies where parametric procedures may be inappropriate, and not accepted by regulators or referees.For those enrolled in a Program of Advanced Statistical Studies, this is a required or elective course in the following Programs:
- Biostatistics (controlled trials) - elective
- Statistics for Social Sciences - elective
Course Program:
The course is structured as follows:In each session, some of these topics will be designated as core topics for all participants. Other will be optional and participants may select from these any topics of special interest to them when time permits. They may also return to such optional topics after the course is completed if there is not time available during the course.
SESSION 1:
- What are nonparametric methods?
- When should they be used?
- Permutation and randomization tests
- Some classic rank or order based tests for location differences
- Wilcoxon signed-rank test
- The sign test
- Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test
- Kruskal-Wallis test
- Further rank or order based tests
- Jonckheere-Terpstra test
- Friedman-Rank sum test
- Procedures for bivariate data
- Spearman and Kendall correlation coefficients
- Theil-Kendall and related methods for linear regression
- Goodness of fit tests for samples from continuous distributions
- Nonparametric analyses of factorial treatment structures
- Specific and multiple comparison tests
- Analysis of survival data
- Robustness
- The bootstrap
- Count data
- Categorical data
- Measures of association
- Modern nonparametric procedures
The Instructor:
Dr. Peter Sprent is Emeritus Professor of Statistics at the University of Dundee, Scotland, and previously worked as a consultant statistician at a horticultural research station in England. He has 28 years teaching experience in Australia and the United Kingdom. He is a joint author of the course text and has written a number of other books on statistics and related topics ranging from popular accounts through textbooks to research monographs. He has published refereed papers in major statistical journals and has been an editor, associate editor, or member of the editorial panel of several journals. He is a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, and a member of the International Statistical Institute.Organization of the Course:
The course takes place over the internet, at statistics.com. During each course week, you participate at times of your own choosing - there are no set times when you must be online. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board. In class discussions led by the instructor, you can post questions, seek clarification, and interact with your fellow students and the instructor. The course is scheduled to take place over 4 weeks, and typically requires 15 hours per week. At the beginning of each week, you receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, you are expected to go over the course materials and work through exercises. Discussion among participants is encouraged. The instructor will provide answers and comments.Certificates and Grades:
You may be interested only in learning the material presented, and not be concerned with grades or certificates. Or you may be enrolled in a statistics.com Program in Advanced Statistical Studies that requires demonstration of proficiency in the subject, in which case your work will be assessed for purposes of issuing a grade. Or you may require only a "Certificate of Course Completion," along with professional development credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEU's). As you begin the class, you will be asked to specify your category.Credit:
This course offers continuing education units (CEU's). For those successfully completing the course (generally this means marks of 50% or better on the homework), 5.0 CEU's and a certificate will be issued by statistics.com, upon request.Dates:
Aug. 27 - Sep. 24, 2010Click here to be notified of future course offerings.
Participants gain access to the online materials on the first day of the course, and typically spend about 15 hours per week (at their convenience). You retain full access to course materials, including discussion board, for two weeks after the course closing date.
Level:
intermediatePrerequisite:
The equivalent of Introduction to Statistics 1: Inference for a Single Variable, and Introduction to Statistics 2: Working with Bivariate Data (and, if necessary before these courses, Introduction to Statistics for Beginners or Survey of Statistics for Beginners).For additional information about course prerequisites, click here.
Course Text:
Applied Nonparametric Statistical Methods, Fourth Edition by Peter Sprent and Nigel C. Smeeton, from Chapman & Hall/CRC Press. This text can be ordered directly from CRC press using this form. CRC Press usually gives a 25% discount when the book is ordered using the above form. Please be sure you obtain your copy before the start of the course. Note also that earlier editions of the book are not suitable for the course.Software:
The main software used in the course is StatXact. A few procedures introduced in the course are not covered by StatXact but are included in the standard statistical package that you would have used in your introductory statistics course. (Note: R has programs for nearly all the procedures in the course, but it requires a lot of practice to make best use of its facilities so at the level of this course it is not recommended for anyone who is not already familiar with it.) Click Here for information on obtaining a free (or nominal cost) copy of software for use during the course.Registration:
Register Online - $499Register Online (academic) - $399 (you must be affiliated with a college, university or high school)
Add $50 service fee if you require a prior invoice, or if you need to submit a purchase order or voucher, pay by wire transfer or EFT, or refund and reprocess a prior payment. Please use this printed registration form, for these and other special orders.
Note: Courses may fill up at any time and registrations are processed in the order in which they are received. Your registration will be confirmed for the first available course date, unless you specify otherwise.
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