SPSS public courses

Interactive courses by People & Co Ltd, based on using the SPSS software package - Getting started with SPSS for Windows; SPSS for Windows: Intermediate Topics; Data Analysis using SPSS; Introduction to Business Statistics; and Introduction to data mining and SPSS Clementine - will be held between September and December.

In "Getting started with SPSS for Windows", emphasis will be placed on practical skills development. This entry level is suitable for students, researchers and analysts in higher education, banking, finance, manufacturing, tourism, market research, aviation, local authorities, government, retail and any other area where data needs to be analysed.

The course logically guides you through the fundamentals of using SPSS and is structured to provide effective training in the four stages of a typical data analysis process-data definition and input, data modification, data analysis and data presentation. The programme is spread over five half-day sessions.

During the three-day "SPSS for Windows: Intermediate topics" you can explore the capabilities of SPSS in more detail. This course is designed both as a complement course to the basics and as a stand alone for experienced users who have learned on their own and now want more formal training.

The course will focus on ways to automate your work, manipulate your data files and results, and send your output to other Windows applications. You will learn how to merge data sets and use ChartLooks to customise the look of your graphs.

This programme is also spread over five half-day sessions and anyone who has worked with SPSS and wants to become better versed in the capabilities of SPSS for Windows and uses SPSS regularly and wants to know the most efficient and effective ways to use the software can attend. Experience with SPSS for Windows or completion of SPSS Basics for Windows course is a pre-requisite.

"Data analysis using SPSS" is a friendly and interactive introduction to both data analysis and SPSS. It is a hybrid programme that combines all aspects of the established SPSS for Windows course with the basic and intermediate modules of the Useful Statistics Course.

This is a popular option due to the course's straightforward style and in-depth content as well as covering all the essentials of both statistical analysis and learning about how to effectively use SPSS as an application from data entry to professional reporting using advanced graphics.

Delegates will receive a jump-start on describing data, testing hypotheses and examining relationships using SPSS. Case study exercises provide comprehensive examples of basic techniques. Data files specific to these examples are supplied on diskette. This hands-on approach reduces the learning curve.

This programme is made up of 10 three-hour sessions.

"Introduction to business statistics" is specially designed to cover the statistical techniques and applications that are particularly useful for business and industry. The business statistics programme can serve both as a refresher course and a practical programme for those without prior knowledge of statistics but who need to learn about what is useful in a practical manner from facilitators who can explain the subject in an interesting and meaningful way. This is a 24-hour programme spread over six half-day sessions, open to all but particularly relevant to those on MBA/DBA courses, those working in the financial services sector, and business analysts and market researchers.

"Introduction to data mining and SPSS Clementine" logically guides you through an overview of data mining and the fundamentals of using SPSS Clementine. It is structured to provide effective training in the stages of a typical data mining exercise - data exploration, modelling techniques and effective interpretation of results. The course also provides detailed coverage of the advanced data manipulation and management techniques. The course is 20 hours long, spread over five half days (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

For more information, phone 2132-2314/5 or e-mail: spss@people.com.mt.

A fully equipped IT training facility is available for all SPSS and related courses. Certificates of attendance are issued. The company will shortly be introducing a new SPSS examination-based certification. Special discounts of up to 50 per cent are available for bona fide students. For more details visit www.people.com.mt/spss.html.