Statistics Advisory Service

Advice about statistical aspects of research is available to all registered OU research students from the Statistics Advisory Service which is part of the School of Mathematics and Statistics. A major aim of the service is to encourage students to learn to deal with the statistical aspects of their research effectively and efficiently, by providing statistical advice both at the planning and at the data analysis stages of research. At the planning stage statistical advice can help to:

• ensure that the research study is efficient from the point of data collection through to completion and beyond, and that the design enables the student to address the research objectives
• identify best practices for data management.

At the data analysis stage the service can help to:

• identify suitable statistical methods to properly address the research objectives
• understand outputs from statistical computing software
• ensure that evidence-based conclusions can be drawn from the analysis.

Students are advised to seek statistical advice as early as possible, preferably while planning the study and before collecting the data. The Statistical Advisory Service is operated by email and commonly agreed appointment only.

Email [email protected] to find out more.