About Statistical Consulting at Victoria University

The Research Office and the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Operations Research jointly offer statistical consulting services for clients within Victoria University and from private or governmental organisations. The goals of the Consulting Service are to enhance university research efforts by offering quality statistical advice to faculty and student projects, to provide interdisciplinary research and collaboration opportunities for students and faculty from all departments, and to develop collaborations with external organisations through consulting projects.

Statistical Consultant Dr Dalice Sim is the current Statistical Consultant. She studied Mathematics and Statistics at Auckland University before completing a PhD in Biostatistics at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. Dalice's statistical interests include clinical trials, longitudinal data analysis, survival analysis and categorical data analysis. However, she most enjoys working with researchers and students in a variety of areas to enable them to make sense of their data. Students and researchers are welcome to contact Dalice and meet with her. Her email is dalice.sim@msor.vuw.ac.nz, her phone extension is 5663, and her room number is Cotton 533.

Services Offered

We offer a range of services, including:

• Advice on study design
• Data management
• Choice and application of statistical methods
• Data analysis and interpretation of results
• Assistance with statistical software and programming

Although we are able to assist clients who are at an advanced stage of their project, we recommend use of the consultancy service at an early stage. Consulting a statistician at the design stage of a study can help to verify that the planned procedures and study size will be adequate to address its goals. The statistician may also suggest ways of maximising available resources through the use of efficient study designs and appropriate data management techniques.

Consulting

Victoria University Researchers

Statistical consultancy services are available to Victoria University faculty, staff and students. Short-term consultations are offered free of charge. For substantial or longer-term services, compensation may be arranged through various sources, such as grant funding (where this is available), and/or shared publications. Students looking for assistance with their thesis or dissertation should first obtain the approval of their supervisor before requesting consultancy services.

Private or governmental organisations

A range of statistical consultancy services are available at competitive rates to clients from private or governmental organisations.

Initial consulting session

The initial meeting is a chance for the consultant to become familiar with the research project, after which an outline of the course of action and an estimate of the time and cost involved can be given. It is therefore important to provide as much information as possible about the research project prior to the initial meeting. Information that is important to provide includes:

• A written summary of the project that includes a statement of the research question and a description of the project
• A data file (an electronic version is preferable)
• A description of the data
• A copy of your research proposal (if available)