Basic↦Statistic Methodology↦Statistics↦Statistical Software
Was betrifft es? Warum ist das wichtig?
A statistical software is a computer program that allows users to perform statistical analyses. Statistical software are used in a wide range of fields, such as businesses, healthcare systems, and social sciences.
A statistical software typically has tools to allow the:
- Import and export of data
- Data manipulation/transformation (e.g. data may need to be converted, standardized, or restructured to be compatible with the analysis tools)
- Various statistical analyses in order to summarize and interpret the numerical information
- Visualization (e.g. graphs, histograms, pie charts)
Popular statistical software programs include R, Stata, SAS, and SPSS.
Was muss ich befolgen?
As a SP-INV, decide, in collaboration with your statistician, which statistical software system to use for your study.
Consider the use of a code-based software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS) over a menu-based software (e.g. Excel). Arguments include:
- Reproducibility: good research practices require that studies are reproducible (e.g. using the same analytical code and data source will produce identical results each time the analysis is repeated)
- Replicability: making the analytical code available to others, allows the study analysis to be replicated (e.g. conduct the same analysis using different data). This fosters research transparency
Wo kann ich Hilfe anfordern?
Your local Research Support Centre↧ can assist you with experienced staff regarding this topic
Basel, Departement Klinische Forschung (DKF), dkf.unibas.ch
Lugano, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU-EOC), ctueoc.ch
Bern, Department of Clinical Research (DCR), dcr.unibe.ch
Geneva, Clinical Research Center (CRC), crc.hug.ch
Lausanne, Clinical Research Center (CRC), chuv.ch
St. Gallen, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), h-och.ch
Zürich, Clinical Trials Center (CTC), usz.ch
References
ICH Topic E9 statistical Principles for Clinical Trials – see in particular
- 3.6 Data capture and processing