Free Workshop: Exploratory Data Mining via SEARCH Strategies

Exploratory Data Mining via SEARCH Strategies

DATES AND TIME: June 8 - 12, 2015, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

LOCATION: Ann Arbor, Michigan

INSTRUCTOR: John J. McArdle, University of Southern California

DESCRIPTION: This workshop provides an overview of current techniques in exploratory data mining for quantitative research in the social and behavioral sciences. Exploratory data mining uses computational methods on large amounts of data in order to construct predictive models of behavior, in contrast to the standard hypothesis testing of many standard statistical techniques. These data mining techniques can be used to model categorical choices, to classify groups, to discover patterns, and to model longitudinal data. Exploratory data mining techniques can be fruitful in most situations where categorical regression or many multivariate analytic techniques are used.

This workshop will explore key algorithms, including regression trees and SEM models (CART, SEMtrees, PARTY, etc.). This work was initiated by the SAS algorithm SEARCH (Morgan & Sonnquest, 1963), and the workshop will begin here and then move to use of the free software modules in R that are currently used for exploratory data mining. The workshop will offer a mixture of mathematical statistics in the morning session and practical, hands-on work in the afternoon. Participants are encouraged to bring their own data to which they can learn to fit an exploratory model and write up the activity.

FEES: There are no registration fees for accepted participants. The first ten (10) admitted workshop participants will receive a travel stipend of $500.

SPECIAL AWARDS: Those completing the course will be eligible to compete for two (2) $15,000 awards for innovative uses of SEARCH.

APPLICATION: Admission to the course is competitive and seating is limited. Apply through the ICPSR Summer Program Portal, where you will need to upload the following documents: 

For graduate students:

• Letter describing reasons for attending course
• Current CV
• Unofficial transcript
• Letter of recommendation from adviser
• List of classes related to statistics and quantitative methods

For junior faculty:

• Letter describing reasons for attending course and research interests
• Current CV
• List of courses taught

The application deadline is April 30, 2015.

Visit the course description page for more information.