Short-term Consultations
Professional staff in the Biostatistics Analysis Center (BAC) of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) offer consultation and advice, with the support of faculty and graduate students, to researchers primarily within the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems on:
- Design and analysis strategies for research proposals involving observational, experimental and survey research studies;
- Selecting and implementing appropriate statistical methods for specific applications to research data;
- Statistical and graphical analysis of data; and
- Statistical review of manuscripts.
Timing
Within three days of receiving your request for statistical support, someone from the BAC will contact you to determine your needs. A staff member will meet with you, and ask that you forward your data and explain your study question and goals. The time it takes to perform your analysis can range from weeks to months, depending on data quality, amount and complexity, and the number of study questions being addressed.
What to expect
For short-term consultations, we work on an hourly basis. Typically, you work directly with the BAC biostatistician and the amount of time it takes to complete the work depends on the cleanliness, organization, and complexity of the data, as well as the number and complexity of questions or analyses requested. A BAC staff member will be able to offer a rough estimate of the time required to complete the analysis upon reviewing the data and understanding the analyses.
BAC staff strive to communicate clearly throughout every collaborative effort. After meetings or phone calls, BAC staff will document and clarify any task list developed. Results may be presented in various ways, including software output, tables and a write-up, a meeting, and a Powerpoint presentation. The BAC requests that you specify your preferences regarding modes of communication (phone, e-mail, or in person) and presentation of results.
