| Description: Data & Decision Lab: http://psychweb.psy.umt.edu/denis/datadecision/front/index.html I specialize in quantitative/decision modeling, statistics and data analysis more generally. My scope of practice is in psychology, health sciences, law, and business. I have recently served as consultant for the United States District Court in conjunction with the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, International, and have also consulted for Donald E. Vinson of Vinson & Company LLC, Jury & Trial Consultants, New York/Los Angeles and Yale University School of Medicine. Other consulting clients have included Rehabilitation Research, Evaluation, and Education Services (Toronto), Information Studies, University of Toronto, Counseling Foundation of Canada (Toronto), Rothbart Pain Management Clinic (Toronto), Rural Institute, University of Montana. In the Autumn of 2009, I founded the Data & Decision Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montana. The Lab is an ever-expanding resource on information quantitative/decision modeling, statistics and data analysis. It consists of a wide-ranging series of notes, tutorials, and instructional guides on univariate, multivariate and decision-analytic statistical procedures. It also consists of an ever-expanding series of topics exploring the fine line where data meets decision, and how individuals and organizations use or misuse empirical evidence when making decisions. The following are select areas and topics for which I am qualified to teach and/or consult: Probability, independence, visual display of quantitative information and graphs, binomial distributions, central tendency, variability, sampling distributions, estimation, normal distribution, independent samples t-tests, pairwise t-tests, poisson distribution and poisson regression, null hypothesis-testing, significance-testing, statistical inference, experimental design and planning, statistical power and sample size estimation, general linear models, generalized linear models (e.g., logistic regression), analysis of variance (ANOVA), factorial analysis of variance, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), fixed effects ANOVA, Bonferroni corrections, significance levels, effect size, Cohen's d, random effects ANOVA, mixed models ANOVA, repeated measures analysis of variance, multiple comparisons, linear contrasts, correlation, biserial correlation, point-biserial correlation, simple linear least-squares regression, non-linear regression, multiple regression, Hotelling's T, matrix algebra for multivariate statistics, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), categorical data analysis, chi-square, discriminant function analysis, binary logistic regression, principal components analysis (PCA), factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, decision analysis, general Bayesian methodology, psychometric reliability, validity, standardization, item analysis, data base management, meta-analysis, survey sampling, survey analysis, SPSS, AMOS, R. Recent Statistical Consulting Projects Evaluation of the PARK Project, SAMHSA Yale University School of Medicine Joy S. Kaufman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director of Program and Service System Evaluation Role: Statistical Consultant – provided statistical consulting and statistical analyses of PARK Project outcome measures. Models used included longitudinal multilevel, HLM, Poisson regression. Evaluation of PEP, SAMHSA Yale University School of Medicine Joy S. Kaufman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director of Program and Service System Evaluation Role: Statistical Consultant – provided statistical consulting on PEP. Models used included longitudinal multilevel, HLM. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education Grant H133B030501 Dr. Tom Seekins, Director of Rural Institute, University of Montana, Missoula, U.S.A. Role: Statistical Consultant – provide statistical support for the sampling of rural population for the development of disability accessibility scale. Some Recent Consulting Projects United States District Court / Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, International - I provided analyses of a survey used to measure public opinion regarding a legal case, and provided expert testimony on the quality and psychometric/statistical properties of the instrument. Neurorehabilitation Outcome Measurement System - I provided reliability and validation analyses for the consulting firm Rehabilitation Research, Evaluation and Education Services (RREES). I also performed exploratory cluster analyses to identify patient profile types. These analyses were used in the development and implementation of ROMS, which is software used to track the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain and associated psychological conditions. The project was directed primarily by Dr. J. Douglas Salmon, Jr. Therapeutic Residential Services Study - I provided design and proposed longitudinal analyses for a project conceived by Florence Crittenton Homes in Helena, Montana. The project was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-home program for pregnant teen mothers and their children. Rural Transportation Study - Rural Institute at the University of Montana - I provided statistical consulting and analysis on the availability of transportation for the disabled population in rural locations in the state of Montana. Results have been published in Seekins, T., Bridges, S., Santa, A., Denis, D., & Hartsell, A. (2007). Faith based organizations: A potential partner in rural transportation. Journal of Public Transportation. The project was headed by Dr. Tom Seekins. Accessibility for the Disabled - This is an ongoing study which seeks to measure accessibility for disabled populations across the state of Montana. Currently, we have completed a pilot study using an accessibility measure for the city of Hamilton, Montana. Our next step is to use this pilot data to determine an appropriate sampling method for the entire state. Food on Film - R21 submitted to NIH - I provided design support and consulting on a grant proposal submitted to the National Institute of Health. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-home program for dietary intake recordings of a very specified and specific population. The analysis proposed for the research consists of repeated-measures ANOVA, and between-group tests. If funded, the project is due to commence in early 2008. Confirmatory Factor Analysis of IQ Measures - This project was just recently launched (Nov. 2007), and is designed to assess the factor structure of the RIAS assessment tool. The project will consist of performing confirmatory factor analyses on IQ data, as well as multiple regression analyses in order to assess incremental validity for predicting a measure of child achievement. The project is being led by school psychologist Dr. Jason Nelson, Ph.D, NCSP of the University of Montana. |
Selected Publications:
Denis, D., & Docherty, K. (in press). Late nineteenth century Britain: A social, political, and methodological context for the rise of multivariate statistics. Journale Electronique d’Histoire des Probabilités et de la Statistique. Denis, D. (2007). Study guide for Kirk, R. E., (2007). Statistics: An introduction. Thomson/Wadsworth: Belmont, CA. Seekins, T., Bridges, S., Santa, A., Denis, D., & Hartsell, A. (2007). Faith based organizations: A potential partner in rural transportation. Journal of Public Transportation. Friendly, M., & Denis, D. (2005). The early origins and development of the scatterplot. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 41, 103-130. Denis, D. (2004). The Modern Hypothesis Testing Hybrid: R. A. Fisher’s Fading Influence. With Discussion by Michel Armatte, Bernard Bru, Michael Friendly, Jeff Gill, Ernest Kwan, Bruno Lecoutre, Marie-Paul Lecoutre, Jacques Poitevineau and Stephen Stigler. Journal de la Société Française de Statistique. Denis, D. (2001). The Origins of Correlation and Regression: Francis Galton or Auguste Bravais and the Error Theorists? History and Philosophy of Psychology Bulletin, 13, 36-44. Friendly, M., & Denis, D. (2001). The Roots and Branches of Modern Statistical Graphics. Journal de la Société Française de Statistique, 141, 51-60. Book Reviews and Commentaries: Denis, D. (2003). Review of David Salsburg's The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized the 20th Century. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 39, 322. Denis, D. (2003). Review of Alain Desrosières's The Politics of Large Numbers: A History of Statistical Reasoning. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 39, 323. Denis, D. (1999). Comment on null hypothesis significance testing. APA Monitor, Vol. 30. Recent Presentations: Denis, D. (2005). David Bakan and significance testing: Setting the record straight. David Bakan Memorial Symposium, Invited Address, Annual Convention of the American Psychological Convention, Washington, D.C. U.S.A. Denis, D. (2005). The general linear model: A brief history. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C. U.S.A. Denis, D. (2003). History of Path Analysis and Causal Modeling. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, CANADA. Denis, D. (2002). Numerical Versus Graphical Solutions and the Reemergence of Graphical Approaches to Data Analysis. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, U.S.A. Friendly, M. & Denis, D. (2002). Milestones in Data Visualization. Poster presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings, New York, U.S.A. Harlow, L. & Denis, D. (2002). Engaging Others in Quantitative Psychology: Peer-Tutored Learning Communities in Quantitative Psychology: A Canadian Approach. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, U.S.A. Denis, D. (2000). The Origins of Correlation and Regression: Francis Galton or Auguste Bravais and the Error Theorists? Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Ottawa, CANADA. Denis, D. (1999). An Historical Overview of NHST. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, Halifax, CANADA. Denis, D. (1999). Is Today's NHST Attributable to R. A. Fisher? Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Psychological Association, Boston, U.S.A. Statistical Resources and Websites I. Professional Associations, Societies & Organizations II. General Statistics & Quantitative Learning III. Scholarly Journals & Archives IV. Statistical Software V. University Statistical & Quantitative Consulting Services VI. Structural Equation Modeling |
