George Mason University

Statistical Consulting Center

 

Would your research and proposal writing benefit from better use of statistics? Do you need help with

Mission

The Statistical Consulting Center (SCC), was created in the Spring of 2001 to support the research mission of the University by assisting faculty and students with statistical components of their research projects and grant proposals. The Center is partially supported by recovered indirect cost funds from the Office of the Provost.

What SCC Consultants will do for you.

SCC consultants, primarily full-time faculty of the Department of Applied & Engineering Statistics, will advise you regarding appropriate statistical methods and available software options for your research proposal or project. Active participation of a consultant in the research project and proposal writing can also be arranged. Areas of expertise include:

What SCC Consultants will not do.

SCC does not provide assistance for non-research activities or for basic problems running statistical software. See Other Statistical Support at GMU .

Location

SCC is located in Central Module, Room 25. It is equipped with a powerful Dell computer and advanced statistical software including:

·        SAS                 Preferred software of statisticians and federal statistical agencies.

·        SUDAAN        Analysis of complex survey data.

·        CART              Classification and regression trees.

·        MARS             Multivariate regression modeling.

Who are the Consultants?

Certain faculty of the Department of Applied & Engineering Statistics serve as Principal consultants to SCC and hold regular office hours in the Center. Other statistics faculty and certain faculty members in other departments of the University with specialized expertise serve as associate consultants and meet with clients by appointment only.

Principal Consultants

A. Richard Bolstein, Director  (by appointment)

Donald T. Gantz                     (Wed., 1:30 – 3:30 pm)

John J. Miller                          (Wed., 2:30 – 4:30 pm)

Clifton D. Sutton                     (MW   5:00 – 6:00 pm)

Who Is Eligible to Use Center Services?

All faculty and administrators of George Mason University, and all students conducting research with or under the supervision of a faculty member. Students must initially be recommended by a faculty member or administrator.

SCC consultants provided well over 100 hours of consultation in the Spring semester to faculty and graduate students from the Departments of Biology, Geography and Earth Science, Public and International Affairs, Systems Engineering & Operations Research, the Graduate School of Education, the College of Nursing and Health Science, and the Krasnow Institute.

When to Seek Statistical Advice?

It is strongly recommended that you contact SCC at the proposal stage of your research project. Proper analysis depends on the design, so the experiment or survey must be designed correctly to achieve statistically valid results.

Cost of Service for Unfunded Research

Cost of Service for Sponsored Research

In the case of funded research, the user is encouraged to include SCC in the research proposal. This can take the form of a direct-cost line item, funding a consultant for an appropriate time in the summer, or in cases of heavy use, a full or partial buyout of a course during the academic year.

Collaboration

If a research project involves a considerable effort on the part of the consultant, then joint authorship should be considered. If the user is a student working on a thesis or dissertation, then it may be appropriate for the consultant to be a member of the student’s committee.

How to Make an Appointment

Call the Center Director by voice (703) 993-3645 or send an email to statistics@gmu.edu.

Other Statistical Support at GMU