PRESENTED BY SALDRU AT UCT
Each year since 1999, SALDRU has run a 2-week workshop designed for university students or graduates seeking further training in statistics and survey analysis using Stata. This workshop is designed for those seeking further training in statistics and survey analysis. It is targeted at those who are entering a post-graduate programme in the social sciences, or those employed in a government or private sector position that requires frequent interaction with social statistics.
The workshop has three major components:
1) Introduction to household surveys
You will learn how to work with and analyse household surveys, based on your hands-on training using the NIDS data. This includes an overview of the major household surveys in South Africa, and how surveys can be used to address policy issues.
2) Overview of basic descriptive statistics
This includes the creation of frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, dispersion and inequality, and a discussion of the issues encountered when generating statistics from survey data.
3) Hands-on instruction in the analysis of survey data using Stata
This will involve reading and exploring data, creating graphs and tables and undertaking basic statistical analysis, including regressions.
The workshop will use data from the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS), a nationally representative survey. Through daily lectures and hands-on computer labs, instructors from UCT will show participants how to use Stata to address substantive social science research questions. By the end of the workshop, participants should feel comfortable working with NIDS, the PSLSD, the DHS, the October and General Household Surveys, and the South African Census.
Some prior training in statistics is desirable, but not required.
Note:
- While some prior training in statistics is desirable, it is not required. Furthermore, it is assumed that course participants are not familiar with Stata.
- Limited funds are available to provide accommodation and transport subsidies for students residing outside of the Western Cape.
- As this workshop tends to be heavily over-subscribed, we cannot guarantee a place for every applicant.
- This course is currently on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions.
What past participants of the course have said
Thanks for a well-run, challenging course. Having not used a statistical package in a while, I felt a bit “rusty” going in to the course. However, through the excellent lectures and tutorials, and with the assistance of the ever-present tutors, I was able to get up to speed. I will be using my new data analysis skills to enrich my work in health research. – Zubair Rahim, Researcher, Parliament of South Africa
As a public health physician and researcher, I found this course very useful and interesting. Now, I feel I can do so much more with survey datasets. It certainly is a great start for anyone just beginning with STATA. – Oluwakemi Odukoya, Public Health Physician and Lecturer, University of Lagos
I found the course inspiring as it gives an overview of Stata and analysis of survey data as well as useful commands to compare the relationship between variables and get insight and understanding of sampled individuals when doing research. The staff compliment is very knowledgeable of the concepts and very professional. – Tovhowani Tharaga, Department of Monitoring and Evaluation
The SALDRU Stata Course was awesome. We were well taken care of from the moment we arrived and throughout the course. This has been the best 2 week course I have ever attended. I learnt a lot and made valuable contacts which will be really beneficial for my PhD. – Refilwe Lepelle, UCT PhD Candidate