Statistical analysis and data manipulation at BU is supported through: licensing and installation services, and one-to-one consultation (see Contacts below). These services are directed primarily to faculty, staff, and graduate students. Undergraduates interested in learning about the academic discipline and theory of probability and statistics should look at course offerings in BU’s Mathematics Department or consider the research methodology coursework offerings of specific (mostly social science) departments.

Software

A wide variety of software tools for statistics are in use on campus. Please call the helpdesk (777-6420) to formally request such software for your office machine or laptop. Details for restrictions and availability of various packages are listed at the Site-licensed Software Database on the licensing agreement details pages. Note, most users requesting SPSS will want the SPSS Base product along with the Regression and Advanced addon module. A small yearly fee is required for the Base and additional fees apply to addon modules totaling between $50 and $80, per machine, per academic year. Fees are not pro-rated.

Documentation

SAS and SPSS user manuals are comprehensive, searchable and online (SAS documentation, SPSS documentation [BU-only]). Links to these and other (condensed, BU-specific) guides and resources are listed in several places on our wiki

• Statistical Programming Documentation
• Software Vendors
• Statistical Programming wiki pages: Category

Large Datasets, special accounts

Most campus researchers will not require special accounts from ITS to access statistical software (in the pods or on campus servers). However, ITS maintains a Unix server (separate from Bingsuns) for high performance research analyses to meet needs that are not met elsewhere (such as large disk space quotas, or other heavy computation requirements). To learn more about the new 'Cruncher' server please contact the helpdesk.

Consultation Contacts / Assistance

ITS staff are available to help faculty and staff with research data analyses as well as helping graduate students get started with their thesis data. Though limited by time and resource constraints, this assistance includes one-on-one help with: decisions about software, SAS and other installations, and basic hands-on instruction to get started using statistical software. Please call the helpdesk to arrange an appointment.