Statistical Consulting Unit
Tel: +61 8 9266 7171
Fax: +61 8 9266 3197
Email: SCU-maths@lists.curtin.edu.au
Aims
The Statistical Consulting Unit (SCU) was established in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics to provide practical statistical solutions to challenging problems arising in academia, industry, business, health and other organisations.
The aims of the group are:
- To increase the awareness and use of statistical methods.
- To promote correct usage of statistics for decision making.
- To provide probabilistic solutions to academic/industrial/business/health problems.
- To provide training in the use of statistical and related software.
Why use statistical methods?
Statistics and Mathematics play an important role in all fields of academic endeavour. Study in all disciplines involves firstly the use of some data collection mechanism and then the use of appropriate methods to analyse and interpret the data. If the data collection mechanism is not properly designed then no method can help you to analyse data and interpret the results correctly. Some common examples of easily overlooked flaws, which render the study outcomes inappropriate, are as follows:
- Sampling bias: Sample is not representative of the target group.
- Inadequate sample size or replications: Sample size is too small to make satisfactory inference about observed differences.
- Confounding: Experimental design makes it impossible to draw separate inferences about study factors.
- Missing essential information: Discarding original data and recording only a few summary statistics, not recording an important variable required for study.
- Misinterpretation of the statistical tools: e.g., interpreting correlation for causation, applying methods for discrete data on continuous data, etc.
The list of such flaws is endless. Hence it is important that one has clear research hypotheses and well-defined data collection and analysis processes before beginning an experiment. A well-designed study can save both time and resources by avoiding common flaws and help one in extracting maximum information.
Proper design of any statistical study requires expertise in the field. A statistician can:
- Help to minimise the amount of experimental effort (and cost) required.
- Help design the study in order to avoid mistakes that may render obtained results inappropriate.
- Help interpret the results of a statistical analysis.
- Provide assistance to clients in order that they may use modern statistical and mathematical software, intelligently.
- Recommend sophisticated methods through which high precision results can be obtained using minimal resources.
- Develop and/or recommend statistical procedures tailored to meet the study’s requirement under special subject scenarios.
- Save time and resources, generally.
Recommendations for Clients
- When to contact us
Clients are strongly encouraged to contact us at an early stage of their study.
A visit to the unit can save considerable time, resources and avoid some unforeseen problems and classical mistakes.
- How to prepare
Before meeting a statistician it is advisable to prepare a description of the research project and intended methods of analysis if any, check on the availability of statistical software in your department, clarify the objectives of the study and have some idea about the intended uses of the results.
Clients who do not have sufficient background in statistics, are encouraged to attend training courses run by the Unit throughout the year. For Curtin staff and research students, fees are minimal.
- Data
It is advisable that data are stored in some easily accessible electronic format e.g., ASCII code file, CSV or text files, spreadsheets etc. Sometimes it is better to consult a statistician even before preparing the data files for analysis.
General Services
- Statistical Advice
We offer consulting services on
- Design and analysis of experiments and surveys.
- Statistical and probabilistic methods in petroleum engineering and geology.
- Statistical modelling and general data analysis.
- Multivariate statistical analysis.
- Time series analysis and forecasting.
- Study of stochastic processes.
- Financial methods and risk analysis.
- Actuarial methods.
- Methodological research.
- Understanding statistical methods and presenting results in technical papers.
- Help in use of statistical software like SPLUS, SAS, MINITAB, SPSS, R.
The above list is indicative and not exhaustive.
- Short Courses
The following is a list of past short courses:
- Basic Statistics for Research Workers.
- Statistical Computing.
- Applied Multivariate Techniques.
- Design and Analysis of Experiments.
- Statistics for Petroleum Engineers and Geoscientists.
A list of new short courses will be announced soon. Special courses of interest can be organised for groups. To lodge your expression of interest in a particular short course fill in and send us the following form:
Word Document [94 kb] or PDF Format [65 kb].
For more information please contact Dr Ritu Gupta on 9266 7289 or email R.Gupta@curtin.edu.au.
- Customised Software Solutions
It is often the case that client’srequirements are not met by commercially available software. The SCU has expertise in designing customised software to meet the specific requirements of the client. This could take the form of either an Excel add-in or a stand-alone software. The add-in is often a popular choice as the software can be run within a familiar environment and hence training requirements are minimal.
- Free Initial Consultation
The SCU will provide free initial consultation to Curtin researchers on statistical methods used in research. Consultation will be in terms of advice on statistical methods, provision of appropriate references, and sometimes by doing actual analysis. The focus of the consulting will be to promote statistical thinking and correct use of statistical methods. Statistical support requiring significant resources like longer consultations, computing and data management will be done on a fee paying basis or through collaborative arrangement between the Unit and the Department concerned.
Follow the link for further information on free initial consultation.
- Training Courses in Statistics
The SCU also runs a range of short courses on basic and special statistical methods throughout the year. The courses are interactive with lots examples and hands-on sessions. Special courses of interest can be organised for research groups.
- Supervision of Research Projects
The SCU will provide formal supervision on statistical aspects of masters and PhD projects in different disciplines. Currently SCU is involved in many such projects. This service can be requested via a collaborative arrangement between the SCU and the Department concerned.
For further information on setting up a collaborative arrangement contact:
Dr Ritu Gupta
Telephone: 9266 7289
Email: R.Gupta@curtin.edu.au - Research Grants and Technical Papers
If you are preparing an application for competitive research grant (like ARC, NHMRC etc.) SCU can offer you advise of the statistical aspect of the application. This could be vital for the success of your application.
We can also help you present statistical results in technical papers.
The SCU will provide formal supervision on statistical aspects of masters and PhD projects in different disciplines. Currently SCU is involved in many such projects. This service can be requested via a collaborative arrangement between the SCU and the Department concerned.
Curtin Research Services
We provide consultation to Curtin researchers on statistical methods, presentation of Statistical methods for technical papers/research grants, formal supervision for masters and PhD students and conduct workshops and training sessions on special statistical methods.
Staff Profiles
Director
Dr Ritu Gupta
BA(Hons), MA Statistics, PhD (Delhi University), AStat
She has several years of teaching and consulting experience and has worked on a range of applied statistical problems. She has acted as a consultant for many government and private organisations and University departments. Some of her clients include Woodside Energy Ltd., BHP, Electoral commission of WA, Water Corporation of WA Department of Immigration, and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. For the past decade she has been involved in developing statistical methods for efficient reserves estimation in petroleum engineering. In the past she was a full-time consultant at the University of Western Australia.
Other Group Members
Associate Professor Tak Kuen (Ken) Siu
BSc(Hons), PhD (University of Hong Kong)
His research areas are mathematical finance, actuarial science and their interplay. His current research interests include risk measures and management, regime-switching models in finance and actuarial science, pricing modern insurance products and financial derivatives, credit risk modelling, financial time series and volatility modelling. His publications include articles published in Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, ASITN Bulletin, North American Actuarial Journal, Scandinavian Actuarial Journal, Quantitative Finance, Risk, and others.
Associate Professor Adrian Wong
BSc, MBA, FIA, AIAA
Associate Professor John Marshall
Associate Professor Kevin Bowman
BSc, FIA (London), FIAA
Dr N. R. Achuthan
BA (Hons) (Delhi), MStat, DipOR (IStatI), PhD (IStatI)
Dr Nihal Yatawara
BSc (Hons) (Sri Lanka), MSc (McMaster), PhD (Waterloo)
Dr Roger Collinson
BSc (Hons), PhD (Curtin)
He is a Research Fellow in the Department with interests is Applied Statistics and Operations Research. He has been involved in a range of projects including statistical modelling of water quality and reserves estimation in petroleum engineering. He is expert in the use of Statistical and Mathematical software such as R, Maple and Matlab, and programming languages C++, VB and FORTRAN.
How to contact us
For any information on our services contact:
Dr Ritu Gupta
Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Building 314 room 459 (level 4)
Curtin University of Technology
GPO Box U1987
Perth WA 6845
Phone: (08) 9266 7289
Fax: (08) 9266 3197
Email: SCU-maths@lists.curtin.edu.au