Economic and social data analysis using R

Registration for this masterclass has now closed. If you are interested in attending, please email bcec@curtin.edu.au.

This new two-day masterclass run by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre will provide course attendees with a practical introduction to the most common empirical approaches in business, economic and social data analysis.

The course is designed to equip attendees with statistical modelling skills that support data-driven business decisions and evidence-based policy making, with a major focus on intuition and practical application of the main statistical techniques.

The course is structured around a combination of accessible lecture-based instruction and practical computer exercises using real world datasets to illustrate techniques and approaches that support a better understanding of economic and social outcomes, for example: What are the key determinants of wages and hours decisions? What contributes most to the likelihood of experiencing of poverty? What factors drive business revenues or profits?

Instruction is delivered in a way that conveys an intuitive understanding of data analytical methods, with an emphasis on the interpretation and communication of results and provides a series of tips and tricks for effective descriptive and statistical analysis.

Participants will be provided with an introduction to the use of the open-source R statistical programming language and the R-Studio interface to illustrate the modelling methods covered in the masterclass.

Some experience in statistical data analysis is preferred but the course is practical in nature and will not dwell too heavily on theory or algebra.

Learning outcomes

The course will cover:

• the use (and power) of descriptive statistics
• graphical methods for economic and social data analysis
• the application of linear regression
• practical model specification
• interpretation and communication of regression results
• choosing the most appropriate statistical approach for specific business problems, or economic or social issues.

The workshop will also touch briefly on some generalisations to the basic linear regression model.

Who is the program for?

The target audience includes public policy professionals, analysts from the private and community sectors, academics and social scientists, early career researchers, as well as Honours and postgraduate research students. Some introductory experience in statistical concepts and data analysis would be beneficial.

Facilitators

The course will be facilitated by Dr Silvia Salazar, Research Fellow, and Dr Panagiotis Sotirakopoulos, Research Fellow, both of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.

Course resources

Specific instruction in the use of the R statistical programming language and the R-Studio interface is provided to implement the modelling methods covered in the course, along with a full set of resources used throughout the workshop including practical exercises, course notes, R code and example data. Participants will be able to adapt these resources to suit their own research needs.

View the program schedule here.

Cost

General
$1,500 (incl. GST).

Students and Not-for-Profits
$990 (incl. GST).

Please note the cost includes catering.

For registration enquiries, please contact us via email on bcec@curtin.edu.au or ring us on +618 9266 1744.