The Cal Poly Statistics Department provides free consulting services for anyone affiliated with Cal Poly, including students, staff and faculty members.
These services, according to the statistics department’s website, “facilitate research design and data analysis in a wide variety of disciplines” and cover a wide range of research-related needs. These needs may include “assisting with research study design, data collection, data management, statistical software, statistical techniques, data summary, or presentation of study results,” as stated on their site.
Statistics department chair Andrew Schaffner said that the consulting services have been helping the Cal Poly community since at least 1990.
Each quarter, two statistics faculty members serve as department consultants. For the 2024 winter quarter session, assistant statistics professor Emily Robinson will serve as the full-time consultant and statistics professor Jeff Sklar will serve as the part-time consultant.
Sklar recommends that anyone interested in the services meet with the consultants early on in their research process, even before collecting any data, so that they can customize their services to the participant’s needs.
He also said coming prepared with research questions accelerates the process.
Robinson said that the more information provided upfront, the better, as it can help the consultants expertly tailor their services for the proposed research.
“I just hope that we can advise or help as many individuals who are seeking it,” Sklar said.
There is no limit to how many consulting sessions a participant can utilize, as the consultants are equipped to offer assistance on projects of varying sizes. The exact number of sessions a participant may need is dependent on the scope of the project and specific questions posed by the client, according to Sklar.
For more extensive research projects that may span more than one quarter, Robinson said the consultants can provide alternate services, which may include collaboration with other faculty members or students.
“I think it’s a great resource,” Robinson said.
According to the statistics department website, the department offers consulting by appointment in 30-minute sessions, which can be reserved by emailing statconsulting@calpoly.edu with the participant’s name, association with Cal Poly, department/area/group affiliation, reason for requesting service and a brief description of the participant’s project.
Robinson and Sklar are available by appointment until the end of the winter quarter on March 15.
Robinson and Sklar confirmed they will provide Zoom accommodations this quarter for those unable to meet in person. However, they recommend checking with individual consultants in the future, as virtual sessions are faculty-dependent.
Those interested in utilizing this resource can find further information regarding the services and appointment availability on the statistics department’s website.