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Coronavirus news

Coronavirus and the “SEM with Mplus” courses

The courses planned for September and December are still “on track” to take place as scheduled.

Meanwhile, I invite you to visit my website for online courses: MplusWizard. The website includes a detailed description of what it is like to take the courses, complete with videos.

mpluswizard.com

 

If you still prefer the in-person course, my current outlook for a safe delivery of the course in September is very positive. This will be updated when/if things change, but here is my view on three main issues:

1. Danger of contracting the virus here:

The teaching room has the capacity to seat 47 people, but only 10 places are offered at the moment. Thankfully, the course will take place before the return of students (term time only starts in October here). More generally, rates of infection with the virus have been very low in Cambridgeshire county throughout, with a much “flatter” curve than the rest of the country [graph source here]. All these factors indicate it will be safe to deliver a course in September.

covid-cam

2. Treatment:

Should the worst happen, Cambridge has one of the best hospitals in the country, Addenbrookes, which is a university hospital. More generally, two drugs are now deployed at fast pace across the country:  remdesivir (this reduces duration and severity in mild cases) and dexamethasone (which significantly reduces death risk in severe cases). Another notable medical advance is the fact that a test exists that can be easily administered upon admission to hospital, which can directly inform whether a specific patient should be given blood thinners and be provided with oxygen assistance.

3. Travel:

Current rules are that any visitor from abroad must self-isolate for 14 days. This rule is due to be reviewed on 29th June, 20th July and 10th August. The restriction is being challenged in court by 3 major airlines (British Airways, Easy Jet and Ryan Air). Air bridges are currently being set with several european countries (to be announced on 29 June) and it is widely believed restrictions will be lifted for arrivals from most countries by the end of August.

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Important:

The College and I are committed to keeping you safe above all. Should circumstances change for the worse, we will err on the side of caution. And if you change your mind at any point, you will obtain a full refund for the course fees and a full refund minus £10 for accommodation in the College.

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I am currently offering only 10 seats (to be revised later, if safe). However, if you wish to take the course, please do not delay your registration. If you sit on the fence until the very last minute, two things could happen:

a) There might be a “sign-up frenzy”, whereby all the seats are snapped up within a couple of days. So you might miss out on a place! This has happened twice before, where up to 20 seats were snapped up in 3-4 days.

b) We might cancel the course in the mistaken belief that there is no/low demand. So if you want to make this course happen, you need to help a bit by signing up so that we know you intend to come. As I mentioned above, you will get a full refund if your circumstances change.


Welcome

For over 6 years I’ve been delivering courses on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with Mplus, both at the University of Cambridge and as a private (ad)venture. I love it. In 2020 I will be teaching 3 courses, in July, September and December, the content of which is detailed below. The courses will be hosted at one of the Cambridge University colleges: Selwyn College. Having the course hosted at a College means you will also get to experience the uniqueness and charm of the Cambridge Collegiate system. And I am particularly excited about having Selwyn College as our host because the entire college site looks like a fairy-tale!

 

TESTIMONIALS

This 3 day course has been exceptionally well delivered by an active researcher who is extremely knowledgeable, patient and thoughtful to the needs of the audience. I particularly enjoyed the blend between lecture material and practical skills development using MPlus, supported by excellent handout material and supporting electronic files. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is new to MPlus.

Prof Neil Coulson, University of Nottingham, UK

Honestly, I loved it. If someone asked me if I would recommend the experience I would say yes, definitely. I started without any knowledge about Mplus and in just three sessions I came out with many ideas to apply to my own research. I think the organization of the course was perfect. The explanations were always clear, with numerous examples. A subject as arduous as statistics was easy to understand. To this also contributed the fact that they made breaks every hour and quarter!

Dr Carlos Freire, University of A Coruña, Spain

This is the best course I have ever taken – Gabriela makes these complex and advanced techniques simple and easily digestible, prepare to learn a great deal and have a lot of fun doing it!

Joanna Davies, UCL, UK

Thank you so much for all. Its been a great experience having the opportunity to participate in the course. It was really helpful  to me. You are so clear at teaching and make statistics seem  easier! I’ll definitely recommend the training to others.

Dr Monica Guzman, Universidad Catolica de Norte, Chile

It was so incredibly helpful and I actually feel as though you gave me a very important gift in my career.  I have many skills as a researcher but never saw complex methods as something that would be accessible to me.  I had always seen statistics as something to be feared and struggled with but your course actually gave me the most wonderful enthusiasm and excitement about working with my data.  It’s made me so much more confident going forward and I will be forever grateful for that.  I have had so many ideas since your course that it’s hard to focus on just one.

Kirsten Smith, University of Oxford, UK

This MPlus course was fantastic. It not only provided me with the skills and confidence to conduct the analyses in MPlus but, also, the details of why, how, and what the analyses were about. Furthermore, I now know how to read and interpret the output files to assess and modify my models.

Dr Melissa Scarpate, University of Cambridge, UK

I attended the Structural Equation Modeling with Mplus course this autumn and found it very helpful. Gabriela explains and illustrates statistical models and Mplus programming in ways that ensures understanding, practical knowledge, and interpretation of the results. Her pedagogical ways in teaching are extraordinary and she explains difficult topics very well and ensures integrated understanding from the audience. The course, with good theoretical introductions and examples, ensures that every participant will progress in practice and understanding throughout the course.

Dr Rolf Gjestad, University of Bergen, Norway

Mplus course in Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is truly unique. The course offers important topics about SEM and factor analysis that are all taught by a wonderfully supportive instructor who made me love statistics, even more; especially that it was not taught in a technical way. All the examples that were used made it easy to understand the statistics behind it. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is interested in statistics and looking to gain the essential skills needed for their academic careers, including graduates and researchers from different fields.

Eman El Sahan, University of Cambridge, UK

I did three courses in SEM in different UK universities last year, and this is by far the best. This course is pragmatic, it teaches you what you need without dwelling into complex mathematical explanations but at the same time, the basics are covered so you can be confident you will do your analysis rigorously.

Dr Blanca Bolea, University of Bristol, UK

The Mplus course is practical oriented. Many useful and helpful examples are provided in a cooperative atmosphere. And I really enjoyed the group atmosphere of the course.

Amelie Rogiers, Ghent University, Belgium

Attending the course turned out to be the best decision I ever made. The course has indeed provided me with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze my data and turn them into meaningful causal models. Advanced topics such as mixture modeling, which I thought I’d never ever grasp, was made very simple. In sum, the course was awesome and enjoyable and I would highly recommend it.

Amna Al Abri, University of Conneticut, USA

Before starting on the course I didn’t know anything about SEM or MPlus. By the end of the course I felt confident enough to try these techniques on my own data. It was a very supportive and flexible course taught by a very knowledgeable tutor.

Dr Fiona Kyle, London City University, UK

The most useful course I went to. If you want to start working with Mplus, I strongly recommend taking this course. Everything is right: the pace, the reasonable size of the group, the theory kept to a bearable amount and the multiple applications and examples to get hands on the data analysis straight away. Gabriela makes sure everyone follows and is not stuck before moving on, so that we actually learn and apply the new knowledge straight away. I started using Mplus for longitudinal data analysis (latent growth curve modelling) for my own research after the course and the course material is my bible – I am referring to it all the time!

Dr Camille Lassale, UCL, UK

I really enjoyed the Mplus course. You don’t feel left behind, as it is practical and hands-on. I did not know a thing about Mplus nor SEM before I started the course and now I was already able to use some of the techniques on my own data…with success!

Mona De Smul, Ghent University, Belgium

This MPlus course with Gabriela was a great experience! It offered me a profound theoretical basis on SEM together with a lot of useful tips-and-tricks to work on my own data. Gabriela’s enthusiasm really encouraged me and she managed to explain complex ideas in a really comprehensible way. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in MPlus!

Sofie Heirweg, Ghent University, Belgium

I recently attended the structural equation modeling course run by Dr Gabriela Roman at Cambridge University. It was an instant relief to be a part of this course since I knew I would be using SEM for one of my PhD chapters but had no prior knowledge of this technique, and the course was run at a very comfortable pace, it was highly comprehensive and enjoyable. I benefitted very much, taking away with me invaluable knowledge of the basic foundations of SEM as well as insight into the intricacies of actually running these models and dealing with common and unusual problems- the latter of which I have been very grateful for recently when working with my own data! I highly recommend anyone who will be working with SEM to attend this course, it was excellent.

Ada Miltz, UCL, UK

This is a course that you should take, no matter whether you studied SEM before or not, or whether you used Mplus before or not. The scope of the topics covered in this course caters for pretty much every SEM researcher.

Ali Al Hoorie, UCL, UK

The course is very useful; the clear instruction explains how to trouble shoot difficulties in Mplus, leaving students confident at approaching future analysis.

Hanna Creese, UCL, UK

Gabriela’s course is unique in being taught by a real statistics expert who can answer any question you can imagine. The fact that she can also teach the basics with clarity makes this class highly valuable.

Peter Ward, University of Warwick, UK

Venue

The University of Cambridge is a “collegiate” university and is composed of Faculties, Departments and Colleges. As such, the Colleges are integral to the make-up of the University. Indeed, when students apply for a Bachelor’s degree, their application is evaluated by one or more colleges and they are admitted by a college, rather than a department. Furthermore, teaching for undergraduates contains two components: lectures and supervisions. Lectures are delivered at the department. Supervisions, which are small-group teaching sessions, are arranged and delivered by the colleges. They accompany broad-brush lectures and are regarded as one of the best teaching models in the world. Each college has its unique features and history.

Selwyn College, where our course will take place, was one of the first in Cambridge to go mixed, admitting women in 1976. The distinctive red-brick Victorian Old Court is Tudor Gothic in style, much of it designed by architect Sir Arthur Blomfield.

Do you wish to stay at the College? The College rooms are all single en-suite and include breakfast. They are located either in Cripp’s court or in Ann’s court. To book a room, use these 3 steps procedure:  click here, then add the code SEM2020 in the Promo field, then check the room availability. It is important that you include the promo code before you check availability, as otherwise it will appear as there isn’t any.

Course

This course is a data analysis course, not a statistics course. What does this mean? It means we will learn when to use different statistical techniques based on our research questions, what these techniques do (in an intuitive non-mathematical way), how to apply them using Mplus and how to interpret the results. As this course is non-mathematical, it is aimed at complete beginners, so you don’t need to have any prior knowledge of either SEM or Mplus.

You will need to bring a laptop that has the demo version of Mplus installed (you can download that free of charge from statmodel.com). Please be aware that to do your analyses, it is not likely that the demo version will suffice. If you don’t yet have Mplus, it is best to come to the course first and then buy it, as the course will help you choose the correct version for your research needs.

 

All about the research question

All about the research question

It’s not about learning a method, but learning how to answer different types of research questions.

Hands-on

Hands-on

Build models and interpret outputs in every session.

Comfort

Comfort

Includes lunch, morning coffee and pastries, mid-morning coffee and biscuits, and mid-afternoon coffee and cakes.

Materials

Materials

Get handouts and Mplus files to keep as work “companions” for your research.

Interactive

Interactive

An interactive course where you get to ask and answer questions throughout.

Unique

Unique

Get the full “Cambridge experience” in a university college.

Quiz

Quiz

Each day includes a quiz to help you grow your confidence.

Your research

Your research

Bring your own questions and ask me during the breaks.

Schedule (10 am – 5 pm)

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
Day 1

Day 1

Introduction to Path Analysis and Mplus

The power of SEM lies in the fact that it combines factor analysis and regression analysis. Thus SEM has two main components: the measurement paths and the structural paths. Path analysis refers to the structural paths and will be introduced on Day 1. We will also cover mediation analysis and the correct use of regression models, depending on features of the outcome variable. We will fit and discuss an assortment of models in Mplus.

Schedule:

  • Session 1: The SEM process
  • Session 2: Path analysis with mediated effects
  • Session 3: The different types of regression models
  • Session 4: Recap and Quiz

 

The programme is from 10am-5pm, split into 4 sessions of 1-1.5 hours each. Click on the other “bubbles” above to see the schedule for each day.

Day 2

Day 2

Factor analysis

The power of SEM lies in combining factor analysis with path analysis. Our instruments (e.g., questionnaires) most often rely on multiple indicators that attempt to tap into an unobserved underlying trait. With factor analysis we use information obtained from responses to items of the questionnaire to obtain insights into the underlying trait. As opposed to simple sum-scores, factor analysis is a more accurate representation of reality. Factor analysis comes in two flavours: exploratory and confirmatory.

Day 2 covers both EFA and CFA, alongside with the specification of a full SEM.

Schedule:

  • Session 1: Introduction to factor analysis
  • Session2: Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis
  • Session 3: Structural equation modelling
  • Session 4: Recap and Quiz
Day 3

Day 3

Multiple-group analysis

Research on differences between groups usually warrants two main research questions: ‘Are the average levels of a construct different between groups?’ and “Is the strength of the relationship between 2 (or more) constructs different between groups?”. But to answer both of these questions, the searcher must first ensure that the constructs measured function equivalently across groups. Can one truly conclude that 2 groups differ in a construct if it is revealed that the 2 groups under investigation interpreted the questionnaire differently?

Day 3 covers multiple group analysis and includes both information about measurement equivalence (i.e. invariance) and how to answer the main research questions of multiple-group studies.

Schedule:

  • Session 1: Multiple-group analysis and invariance testing
  • Session 2: Measurement invariance
  • Session 3: Structural invariance and Moderated mediation
  • Session 4: Recap and Quiz
Day 4

Day 4

SEM with longitudinal data

Structural equation modelling with longitudinal data can be a powerful tool in understanding behaviour over time. Although often disregarded, longitudinal invariance is essential for models where one wishes to compare mean levels over time and models depicting individual trajectories over time. Indeed, if the questionnaire was not interpreted in the same way at different time-points, how can one conclude that any observed differences in scores represented true differences?

In addition to providing an introduction to modelling using Mplus and explaining longitudinal invariance, Day 4 provides insights into path analysis with longitudinal data, auto-regressive (including cross-lagged) models and longitudinal mediation analysis.

Schedule:

  • Session 1: Auto-regressive models and Longitudinal mediation
  • Session 2: Longitudinal Confirmatory Factor Analysis
  • Session 3: Longitudinal CFA with measurement invariance constraints
  • Session 4: Recap and Quiz
Day 5

Day 5

Modelling individual trajectories over time

Modelling individual trajectories over time is one of the most interesting and revealing techniques that can be applied to longitudinal data. It can provide information about the general pattern of people’s behaviour and attitudes, as well as each person’s individual trajectory over time. This can then be incorporated into structural equation models to better understand the extent to which a variety of antecendents translate into steeper increases or decreases of a behaviour over time.

Day 5 covers latent growth curve models (linear, quadratic and piecewise) and further builds on these models to show how to answer research questions that pertain to the development and mutual relationship between 2 (or multiple) psychological constructs, as well as questions about predictors and outcomes of individual trajectories.

Schedule:

  • Session 1: Introduction to latent growth curve models
  • Session 2: The trajectory shape
  • Session 3: Dual growth models and Growth models with covariates
  • Session 4: Recap and Quiz
Day 6

Day 6

Group-based trajectories

Sometimes a single average trajectory doesn’t equally well describe your entire sample. In this case, it is likely that different sub-groups exist, each sub-group having its own trajectory of behaviour / attitudes over time. This is where group-based trajectory modelling comes in.

Day 6 covers the main tenets of identifying sub-groups of people with specific developmental trajectories over time and explains the difference between several major technique variations: growth mixture models, latent class growth analysis, latent profile analysis, longitudinal latent class analysis, etc. It also explains how you can use information on each person’s “profile” (i.e. trajectory group membership) to further build models that include covariates/predictors and outcomes.

Schedule:

  • Session 1: Introduction to group-based trajectory modelling
  • Session 2: Latent Class Growth Analysis and Growth Mixture Models
  • Session 3: Group-based trajectories with covariates; Further topics
  • Session 4: Recap and Quiz

Buy

In 2020 there are 2 planned courses: one in September (7th – 13th) and one in December (7th – 13th).

You can register for a place to the full course, or choose either the cross-sectional or longitudinal component. This said, if you are a complete beginner wishing to take the longitudinal part, please also sign-up for the cross-sectional part – this is a prerequisite. The fee includes tuition, course materials and lunch, but does not include accommodation.

The structure of the main course is:

  • Cross-Sectional component: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • Thursday is a day of independent study (no course takes place, an opportunity to relax and explore Cambridge).
  • Longitudinal component: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

  • st-johns-panorama

    4September: Course (all)

    £960.00
    st-johns-panorama

    4September: Course (all)

    £960.00

    This course includes both components. The first focuses on research with cross-sectional data and is held during 7-9 September 2020. The second focuses on research with longitudinal data and is held during 11-13 September 2020.

    Detailed info is presented in the SCHEDULE section. Just click on the “bubbles” for each day.

    4 in stock

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  • Cross-Sectional Course

    5September: Cross-Sectional

    £480.00
    Cross-Sectional Course

    5September: Cross-Sectional

    £480.00

    This course focuses on research with cross-sectional data. It is held during 7-9 September 2020. Detailed info is presented in the SCHEDULE section. Just click on the “bubbles” for days 1, 2 and 3.

    4 in stock

    Add to cart
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  • Longitudinal Course

    6September: Longitudinal

    £480.00
    Longitudinal Course

    6September: Longitudinal

    £480.00

    This course focuses on research with longitudinal data. It is held during 11-13 September 2020. Detailed info is presented in the SCHEDULE section. Just click on the “bubbles” for days 4, 5 and 6.

    4 in stock

    Add to cart
    Quick View
  • st-johns-panorama

    December: Course (all)

    £960.00
    st-johns-panorama

    December: Course (all)

    £960.00

    This course includes both components. The first focuses on research with cross-sectional data and is held during 7-9 December 2020. The second focuses on research with longitudinal data and is held during 11-13 December 2020.

    Detailed info is presented in the SCHEDULE section. Just click on the “bubbles” for each day.

    3 in stock

    Add to cart
    Quick View
  • Cross-Sectional Course

    December: Cross-Sectional

    £480.00
    Cross-Sectional Course

    December: Cross-Sectional

    £480.00

    This course focuses on research with cross-sectional data. It is held during 7-9 December 2020. Detailed info is presented in the SCHEDULE section. Just click on the “bubbles” for days 1, 2 and 3.

    4 in stock

    Add to cart
    Quick View
  • Longitudinal Course

    December: Longitudinal

    £480.00
    Longitudinal Course

    December: Longitudinal

    £480.00

    This course focuses on research with longitudinal data. It is held during 11-13 December 2020. Detailed info is presented in the SCHEDULE section. Just click on the “bubbles” for days 4, 5 and 6.

    4 in stock

    Add to cart
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Note: The current maximum nr of attendees allowed per course has been reduced to 10. This will only be increased if there is sufficient improvement in the global health crisis to be deemed safe. So if you plan to register, perhaps consider doing it soon.

If you have registered for a course that needs to be cancelled by us or if you change your mind and decide to cancel your registration, you will have the option to move your registration to a later course of your choosing, or switch to the online course, or simply cancel and get a full refund. So you can feel at ease with making plans with the reassurance that you can change them later and not lose any money. I’ve got your back.

About

Gabriela RomanMy name is Gabriela Roman and I am a Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. Previously I was fortunate to learn a little bit about various branches of psychology and criminology: a PhD in developmental psychology (Cambridge University), an MPhil in criminological research (Cambridge University), and a BA in cognitive and social psychology (Jacobs University Bremen).

My main research interest is the development of cognitive and emotional self-regulation and the role of self-regulation for behaviour difficulties (in early childhood) and criminal behaviour (in adolescence and early adulthood). I am particularly interested in family contributions to the development of self-regulation. I have also been involved in various interesting projects as a consultant. I am currently working on a book about young people’s pathways into crime, from age 13 to age 24.

In 2013, I developed an 8-day course on Mplus together with my friend Dr Arielle Bonneville-Roussy. This was hosted by the Psychometrics Centre within the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. Teaching it and interacting with so many interested (and interesting!) participants has been a truly wonderful experience! In 2016 Arielle took up a lectureship elsewhere and the Psychometrics Centre became part of Judge Business School Executive Education Ltd, a company associated with the Judge Business School at Cambridge. I thought for a while about whether the course should continue, but when I started receiving queries about future courses from people who’d seen old ads online, I realised the course must go on.

I hope you will enjoy the course at least as much as I enjoy teaching it. Best wishes and I hope to see you soon!

Gabriela.

Analysis retreat

I would like to gauge interest in an “analysis retreat”. This is like a “writer’s retreat”, but for data analysis. Here’s how it would work:

  • 5-7 attendees only, at Selwyn College in Cambridge.
  • Start: Monday evening (dinner). End: Friday lunchtime (lunch).
  • You send me your research questions and details about your data before registering (to ensure I can provide the kind of advice you need).
  • Monday evening: arrive in Cambridge, dinner and chat, getting to know each other.
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (until 3pm):
    • 8.30 am: Breakfast together in college.
    • 9 am – 12 noon: Morning analysis session; coffee and pastries/biscuits.
    • 12 noon – 2 pm: Lunch together in college; general group discussion about our progress and aims for the afternoon.
    • 2 pm – 5pm: Afternoon analysis session; coffee and cakes.
    • 5 pm – 7pm: Break to refresh, relax and enjoy Cambridge.
    • 7 pm: Dinner and chat.

 

  • Price: £2850. It includes:
    • Accommodation in Selwyn College.
    • All meals (from Monday dinner – Friday lunch).
    • Refreshments through the day: coffee, tea, pastries, biscuits, cake.
    • Access to the MplusWizard online lessons necessary for your analyses.
    • Support and mentorship from me throughout the duration of the retreat.

 

The “analysis session” includes a mixture of learning and data analysis. I will choose a selection of videos from my online course which covers the topics you need for your analysis. You watch the videos and learn the techniques, then start setting up the analyses. I check you models and help you when you get stuck. Importantly: what this offers is not consultancy, but mentorship. The aim is to empower you to do analyses yourself, but provide a setting which is highly customised and efficient for you.

 

You can express an interest by pre-registering here:

  • gate

    Analysis retreat

    Free!
    gate

    Analysis retreat

    Free!

    You can pre-register for the analysis retreat here. Pre-registration is free and comes with no strings attached, but means you might receive emails from me about it. If sufficient interest is gauged, a retreat will be organised. You will only have to register once we ensure the dates suit you and your data plan falls within my area of knowledge/skills.

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