IT & MCIS

DEFINITION OF STANDARD:
Software to perform data analysis for social and scientific research, teaching, data management, and data presentation in the form of summary statistics, tables, and graphics.

RATIONALE:
University departments have an integral need for sophisticated software capable of providing data analysis for research, teaching, data management, and report writing.

PUBLICATION DATE: May 10, 1999
REVIEW DATE: May 28, 2003
REVIEW CYCLE: Annually
RESPONSIBLE CONTACT:
Lorinda Wang Lorinda@pop.uky.edu

TIMELINE:
Revision Date: May 28, 2003
Effective Date: July 1, 2000

Recommended Standard(s):
It is important that statistical software operate across the range of platforms (desktop, midrange, and mainframe). The software must be able to extract and store data in various formats; group data transform data, and perform statistical analysis for faculty, staff, students, and other research personnel in various disciplines on campus

Recommended Product(s):
SAS and SPSS, available for a number of platforms, including desktop, Unix workstation, and IBM mainframe.

Justification:
SAS and SPSS have long been a standard at the University of Kentucky. A large number of UK researchers and graduate students are trained in using this software. For more than 20 years, IS has provided technical support and staff consultation on the use of the software. SAS and SPSS training is part of the IS ongoing services.

Technical Considerations:
None

Note: A basic understanding of statistics is an absolute requirement for use of this software, as well as for the interpretation of statistics provided by this software. Advanced analysis requires an advanced understanding of data analysis and statistics, usually available through university study. Warning: use of this software without an understanding of underlying statistical principals will lead to erroneous conclusions.

For more information:
IS/SSTARS (Social Sciences Teaching and Research Statistics) is the technical supporting center for statistical software.