SHORT COURSE DESCRIPTION
This three-day short course is intended as both a theoretical and practical introduction to modern statistical techniques for longitudinal data analysis from a latent variable perspective. An understanding of modern longitudinal data analytic methods will be developed by relating it to participants’ existing knowledge of traditional statistical methods, particularly multiple linear regression. A participant’s experience in this workshop will be enhanced by additional prior coursework or knowledge of advanced modeling techniques such as structural equation modeling and multilevel modeling, but is not required.
Topics covered during the three-day short course follow sound principles of any data analytic endeavor. The course begins with longitudinal designs and exploratory data analysis. These introductory topics quickly give way to the numerous facets of growth modeling including: centering and coding variables, inclusion of time-invariant and time-varying covariates, and accommodating nonlinearity. Extensions to basic growth models will be discussed and include multivariate (or parallel process) models, second-order latent growth models, latent change score models, and multilevel latent growth models. While not the focus of the workshop, we will discuss how these models are estimated under maximum likelihood and Bayesian frameworks.
Models will be presented in several formats — path diagrams, equations, and software syntax. Data, annotated Mplus and R script files along with annotated output for all of the examples will be provided. Throughout the course on-site participants (or on-line participants with access to the software) will be able to do practice exercises using Mplus and R; participants attending on-site are strongly encouraged to bring their own laptop PCs to do these exercises.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Research professionals, faculty, and graduate students
REQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
It is assumed that participants have expertise with general linear model especially multiple linear regression (e.g., hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, parameter interpretation). Although not required, a participant’s experience in this workshop will be enhanced by additional prior coursework or experience with advanced modeling techniques such as structural equation and multilevel modeling.
DATES AND TIMES
September 14-16, 2016 (Wednesday – Friday), Check in at 8:30AM
Continental Breakfast*: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch (on your own): 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Afternoon Session: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
* Participants who have special dietary needs or preferences are welcome to bring their own food as well.
LOCATION
Benjamin Banneker A, Rm. 2212
Adele H. Stamp Student Union
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
COURSE FEES
(seats limited)
$595 for all three days
$395 for full-time students
(free for pre-registered HDQM Department faculty and students, although you must register; admission will depend on if space is available)
ON-LINE OPTION! $195 for all three days. See below for details.
ON-LINE OPTION
Format: On-line participants will receive a personalized login code to use their own computer, browser, and reliable Wi-Fi connection to access a live-stream of the workshop, showing the instructor as well as the handouts displayed on screen to on-site participants.
Materials: On-line participants will receive electronic copies of the workshop materials that on-site participants receive, as well as any other relevant materials or information.
Timing/access: On-line participants may choose to watch the stream synchronously, or may elect to watch a recording of the workshop asynchronously, or both. With DVR-like capabilities, and access to the recordings for one-week after the end of the workshop (i.e., until September 23, 2016), this format allows on-line participants to choose when they engage. This is especially useful for on-line participants in different time zones, or anywhere in the world, who may choose to watch at some later time than the actual workshop time. (Asynchronous participation does not include real-time chat with other on-line participants, although a visual record of prior chats will be viewable).
Technical support: Participants are assumed to be able to secure a reliable computer, internet browser, and Wi-Fi connection. Challenges at the user end must be resolved by the user. Fortunately, because the workshop is recorded, users experiencing technical challenges can still “catch up” by watching the recordings to which they have access.
Content support: Content support for on-line participants is limited to real-time chat with the on-line participant community and any quantitative methodology doctoral students who might also be participating. There is no mechanism for submitting individual questions to the instructor.
Hands-on activities: On-line participants may choose to try any hands-on activities being done by on-site participants; however, support for such activities is limited to the on-site participant community.
Cost: $195 for three days of streaming content, access to the workshop recordings for one week total, and electronic copies of all materials.
HOW TO REGISTER
Short-course registration form
QUESTIONS?
Contact Ms. Qiwen Zheng -- qzheng12@umd.edu
NEARBY AIRPORTS
DIRECTIONS: DRIVING
From Baltimore and Points North
- Take I-95 South to Washington, D.C.'s Capital Beltway (I-495).
- Take Exit 27 and then follow signs to Exit 25 (U.S. 1 South toward College Park).
- Proceed approximately two miles south on U.S. Route 1.
- Turn right into Campus Drive entrance (main gate).
- Proceed up Campus Dr to the "M" circle, go halfway around the circle and continue on Campus Dr (second right after entering the circle).
- Proceed up Campus Dr to the "M" circle, go halfway around the circle and continue on Campus Dr (second right after entering the circle) until you see Stamp Student Union on your right side.
From Virginia and Points South
- Take I-95 North to Washington, D.C.'s Capital Beltway (I-495).
- Continue North on I-95/I-495 toward Baltimore.
- Take Exit 25 (U.S. 1 South toward College Park).
- Proceed approximately two miles south on U.S. Route 1.
- Turn right into Campus Drive entrance (main gate).
- Proceed up Campus Dr to the "M" circle, go halfway around the circle and continue on Campus Dr (second right after entering the circle) until you see Stamp Student Union on your right side.
From Virginia and Points West
- Take I-66 East or I-270 South to Washington, D.C.'s Capital Beltway (I-495).
- Go East on I-495 toward Baltimore/Silver Spring.
- Take Exit 25 (U.S. 1 South toward College Park).
- Proceed approximately two miles south on U.S. Route 1.
- Turn right into Campus Drive entrance (main gate).
- Proceed up Campus Dr to the "M" circle, go halfway around the circle and continue on Campus Dr (second right after entering the circle) until you see Stamp Student Union on your right side.
From Annapolis and Points East
- Take U.S. 50 to Washington, D.C.'s Capital Beltway (I-495).
- Go North on I-95/I-495 toward Baltimore.
- Take Exit 25 (U.S. 1 South toward College Park).
- Proceed approximately two miles south on U.S. Route 1.
- Turn right into Campus Drive entrance (main gate).
- Proceed up Campus Dr to the "M" circle, go halfway around the circle and continue on Campus Dr (second right after entering the circle) until you see Stamp Student Union on your right side.
From Washington, D.C. (Northwest/Southwest)
- Take 16th St. North which becomes Georgia Ave. North at Maryland/D.C. line.
- Go East on I-495 toward Baltimore.
- Take Exit 25 (U.S. 1 South toward College Park).
- Proceed approximately two miles south on U.S. Route 1.
- Turn right into Campus Drive entrance (main gate).
- Proceed up Campus Dr to the "M" circle, go halfway around the circle and continue on Campus Dr (second right after entering the circle) until you see Stamp Student Union on your right side.
From Washington, D.C. (Northeast/Southeast)
- Take Rhode Island Ave. (U.S. 1 North) which becomes Baltimore Ave. North at Maryland/D.C. line.
- Proceed through the city of College Park.
- Turn left at Campus Drive entrance (main gate).
- Proceed up Campus Dr to the "M" circle, go halfway around the circle and continue on Campus Dr (second right after entering the circle) until you see Stamp Student Union on your right side.
VISITOR PARKING
Participants may park at the Union Lane Garage (located between the Adele H. Stamp Student Union and Cole Field House) for a daily fee. There are numerous metered spaces on campus but the University police are diligent about ticketing cars at expired meters as well as cars without appropriate stickers in reserved parking lots.
More information about parking on University of Maryland Campus can be found at the web site: http://www.cvs.umd.edu/visitors/parking.html
METRO (SUBWAY)
The Campus is conveniently located approximately 1 mile from the College Park-University of Maryland Metro Station. The stop is on the green line of the D.C. Metro System. The University of Maryland Shuttle Bus runs from the College Park Metro stop on a twenty-minute schedule through the Campus. Or, a brisk twenty minute walk up a moderate hill through the Campus will bring you to all locations.
D.C. Metro Map: http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm
ACCOMMODATIONS
Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodations. For out-of-town guests, there are several sources of accommodations in the immediate area. Information about hotel pricing and reservations can be found at the web site: http://www.cvs.umd.edu/visitors/offcampus.html. Note that participants will need to make their own arrangements for transportation to and from campus.
[Note that there is a hotel located on the edge of the University of Maryland campus: The Marriott Inn & Conference Center, University of Maryland University College. For more information about this hotel, visit: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasum-college-park-marriott-hotel-and-conference-center/
Jeffrey R. Harring is an Associate Professor of Measurement, Statistics and Evaluation in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Harring teaches advanced quantitative graduate seminars on longitudinal data analysis, simulation design, computational statistics, and finite mixture models. His research focuses on methods for repeated measures data, nonlinear structural equation models, and mixtures of both linear and nonlinear growth models. Dr. Harring has published methodological papers in prominent journals such as Multivariate Behavioral Research, Psychometrika, Psychological Assessment, Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, Structural Equation Modeling, Psychological Methods, as well as an invited submission in the Annual Review of Psychology. Dr. Harring co-authored a book entitled, Comparing groups: Randomization and bootstrap methods using R, and authored chapters and co-edited two contributed volumes, Advances in longitudinal methods for the social and behavioral sciences, which was published in 2012, and Advances in multilevel modeling for educational research: Addressing practical issues found in real-world applications, which was recently published in early 2016. He served as the program chairs for AERA: Division D, Section 2 – Statistical Theory and Methods from 2008-2010 and the Structural Equation Modeling Special Interest Group from 2013-2014 and sits on the editorial boards of flagship quantitative methods journals. Dr. Harring holds a B.A. in Mathematics, an M.S. in Statistics, and a Ph.D. in Quantitative Methods in Education from the University of Minnesota.