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Consulting Services
Services encompass a very broad range of support from a review of one component of an analytical project to complete responsibility for data entry and statistical analysis of information. An important note at the outset. The analytical work conducted will adhere to two basic principles: first, that simple is elegant and second, that only analyses appropriate for the data available will be done. For example, when distributional assumptions associated with a parametric test (e.g. t-test) are not met, a non-parametric test will be done. Clients should not expect SCS to run analyses deemed inappropriate.
One final note before launching into specifics. Through the consulting process every effort is made to strengthen your understanding of data analysis. If your first encounter with SCS gives you the skills to independently tackle your next project that's a success.
Services
A valuable analytic technique for examining written text and images (e.g. pictures, cartoons, film). SCS can provide guidance with respect to the collection of data and subsequent analysis or conduct the analysis for you. Special attention is paid to processes which facilitate the evaluation of inter-rater reliability and semantic validity.
Frequently, once information has been gathered, manipulation of the information to obtain additional variables for analysis is needed. SCS can work from raw data (surveys), excel files, and SPSS files to get your data ready for analysis.
While a review of the entire proposal may not be needed, an external review of the analyses planned can be extremely valuable. A particular strength associated with a SCS review is the expertise available when reviewing the assessment plans proposed.
Reliability & Validity EstimationContacting SCS as you design your data collection protocol is strongly advised. This helps insure that the information needed to assess the reliability and/or validity of your data is available when you turn to an analysis of your data. When ready for analysis, SCS can either guide you through the analysis or evaluate reliability/validity for you.
At the outset, and prior to the collection of data, it can prove an enormous savings in time and energy to obtain assistance in designing the protocol for your research. Oversights, regardless of whether it's survey research or involves collection of quantitative/qualitative information, are very costly. Time taken early on to have your plans reviewed can help keep you on schedule and facilitate the analysis once your data is collected.
Sample Size and Power EstimationPrior to collecting data, an evaluation of the sample size needed to obtain sufficient power is recommended. Following completion of an analysis, determination of the power present to detect statistically significant differences or relationships is valuable when interpreting findings. SCS can provide guidance or conduct the analyses for you.
Data based decision making relies first on good data and second on sound statistical analyses of that data in order to reveal patterns that provide insights that lead to action. Done well, analytical work can lead to actions in the form of problem solving or concrete decisions that can substantively address the issues under scrutiny. SCS is prepared to assist at the level you need from handling the analysis from start to finish to reviewing analyses piecemeal as you work your way through your data.
SCS can provide support at any point along the way as you develop a survey, select a sample, collect the data, enter the data, and finally analyze the information obtained. If online administration of your survey is an option, SCS can also take care of all aspects from creating an online version of your instrument to final analysis.
Whether your interest is assessment of achievement in an educational setting, comparisons of knowledge across different groups, comparison of understanding following an intervention, or any of a number of other situations where reliable and valid assessment in the cognitive domain is of interest, SCS can prove an excellent resource as you develop and refine your instrument.
Good Data + Good Judgment = Sound Decisions
