Multivariate Data Analysis Using PC‑ORD

[Melanie Colón]

http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/labs/silviculture/pc-ord

 

Multivariate Data Analysis Using PC‑ORD

Short-courses on analyzing species community data with the PC‑ORD software package.

 

Upcoming Trainings:

• 14-18 November 2016, 10:00-12:00 & 13:00-15:00 EST daily
• 20-24 February 2017, 10:00-12:00 & 13:00-15:00 EST daily

Visit the Workshops or Webinars pages for more details.

About the Trainings

Workshops for novices in the use of PC‑ORD and in multivariate analyses in general have been developed to provide training in three areas:

1. a 10-step analysis process for defensible analysis and interpretation
2. the PC‑ORD software (through version 7), to understand how to use these tools properly
3. multivariate community analyses, to know what tools are available and generally what they do

 

Tools are introduced, explained, and demonstrated in the order in which you would use them while conducting an analysis. Topics include:

• importing, screening, and restructuring your data prior to analysis
• exploring and preparing the data for analysis and selecting the appropriate tools
• guided ordination tools (weighted averaging, polar ordination, CCA, RDA, fuzzy set ordination)
• free ordination tools (PCA, NMS)
• classification tools (cluster analysis, two-way cluster analysis)
• group-testing tools (MRPP, PerMANOVA, Indicator Species Analysis)
• association assessment tools (Mantel Test, Fourth Corner Analysis)
• interpretation, manipulation, and communication of graphs

Training Options

• Workshops allow you to attend in person, providing the opportunity to make inquiries about your own data and analyses.

• Webinars allow you to attend via the Internet, eliminating travel costs, but are only available if you have high bandwidth.

Instructors

Trainings are taught by Dr. JeriLynn Peck, who studied with the author of the software (Dr. Bruce McCune) at Oregon State University and has been offering workshops since 1997. Dr. Eric K. Zenner, with a background in applied univariate statistics, sometimes provides assistance.

Fees

Registration fees for most trainings are in the $350-$450 range, with lower fees for students (typically $225) and workshop hosts. This fee does not include the software or companion book, which must be ordered from the software company. Payment for the workshop fee is accepted in the form of checks made out to "Penn State" or by credit card. Certificates of completion are available upon request.

About PC‑ORD

There are few statistical packages specifically designed for community analyses; PC‑ORD brings together in one place many relevant analyses that are otherwise only found scattered among different software packages. Further, because PC‑ORD was written with community ecologists in mind, it includes several procedures and options that are best suited for species data yet found nowhere else. Current trainings cover procedures available in PC‑ORD version 7. Because later versions of PC‑ORD build on previous versions, everything in version 6 will be covered during the training, plus additional features in version 7. Thus, if you have not updated to version 7, everything in versions 5 and 6 will be covered plus there will be some new tools introduced that you don't yet have.

If you are curious, have questions, or perhaps advice you'd like to share with the PC‑ORD community, consider joining the PC‑ORD GoogleGroup.