Advanced Statistics I

Full course description

The course consists of six units. In the first four units, participants will be given an in-depth training in the following standard statistical methods: factorial ANOVA for between-subject designs, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA), discriminant analysis and multiple linear regression. Students are assumed to have background knowledge of balanced two-way factorial ANOVA and multiple regression. These methods will be briefly reviewed. The following advanced topics will then be covered: unbalanced factorial designs, contrast analysis, interaction, simple slope analysis, dummy coding, centring covariates, different coding schemes, collinearity and residuals checks and data transformation. The distinction between confounders and mediators in regression and ANCOVA is also discussed, forming a bridge from regression to structural equations modelling (SEM). The latter is an advanced multivariate method that is gaining importance in psychology but still requires special software (such as Lisrel, EQS, AMOS or Mplus). SEM is introduced in two units, starting with causal modelling and mediation analysis in cross-sectional research and then extending to longitudinal research and latent variables (factors). Special attention is given to identifying models, model equivalence, global and local goodness of fit indices, parsimony, model modification and cross-validation. Some concepts from matrix algebra are needed for SEM, and these will be briefly discussed without going into technical detail.

The corresponding practical for this course is: SPSS I and Lisrel