Nonparametric Statistics

Dr. Peter Sprent

Aim of Course:

This course teaches you how to perform a range of nonparametric statistical analyses - robust procedures that do not assume that data are samples from prespecified 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 Professional Advancement Programs, 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

The Instructor:

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, a member of the American Statistical Association, the International Statistical Institute and of the Biometric Society.

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 10-15 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 Professional Advancement Program 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. 29 - Sep. 26, 2008
Click 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 10-15 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:

intermediate/introductory

Prerequisite:

The equivalent of Introduction to Statistics I: Inference for a Single Variable, and Introduction to Statistics II: Working with Bivariate Data (and, if necessary before these courses, Introduction to Statistics for Beginners or Survey of Statistics for Beginners).

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:

Software will be used in the course; the recommended program is StatXact. Click Here for information on obtaining a free (or nominal cost) copy of software for use during the course. The textbook contains a coupon offering the student version of StaXact at a reduced rate. Most of the examples and exercises may also be done, at least partially, using Minitab, SAS or R.

Registration:

Register Online - $449
Register Online (academic) - $349 (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.