PhD/PsyD Maintaining competencey in stats/design

[erg923]

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We harp alot about the importance of being scientifically literate on here, and while that is not really a problem following graduate school, it is, admittedly much more difficult to maintain skills in stat analysis, SPSS, and design issues if you aren't doing it on a regular basis. One year removed from a faculty position, I am basicaly in a 100% clinical position with the exception of having prac students and maintaiming outcome data for projects that may or may not ever happen.

I am losing my edge. I am an ad hoc reviewer for 3 journals and find my critques are usually much softer than others and that I am not catching some stuff that they are. I am also rusty with some stats stuff that used to be almost immidiate for me in grad school. Besides the obvioyus of reviewing textbooks and notes (which I really dont have much time for) what else can one do to maintain competencey in this area?

 

[G Costanza]

Make friends with someone who obsesses with stats. I've found conversations about topics help me stay fresh.
Also- anytime you read an article, read the method section line by line thinking about what the author just said. That kind of slow critique brings out a lot of questions for me. Anything I don't understand, I look up.

 

[PsyDr]

Most states will give ce credits for a university course. Harvard has a few online courses. Stanford has a ton of courses FOR FREE, which I doubt will get you ce credit.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Conference workshops can potentially also be helpful for this sort of thing, although that of course entails registering for and attending said conferences, which can be expensive if your employer doesn't reimburse. And I second PSYDR's suggestion for the online stuff as well.

Are there other folks at your VA (or maybe some nearby MIRECC folks) who're actively involved in research? If so, even if they aren't up for semi-regular conversations on the topic, they might have some ideas for helping to stay current.

 

[WisNeuro]

Are you planning on getting back into the research game? If not, why not drop the ad hoc reviews? If you do want to eventually get back, do you have the Andy Fields' stats books? Those things are great.

Otherwise, what AA said. There are some VA's that are very involved in research. Our Npsych team here has about 6 large projects going on at once, see if there may be a way to get involved in some opportunities if its available.

 

[IT514]

Are you planning on getting back into the research game? If not, why not drop the ad hoc reviews? If you do want to eventually get back, do you have the Andy Fields' stats books? Those things are great.

Otherwise, what AA said. There are some VA's that are very involved in research. Our Npsych team here has about 6 large projects going on at once, see if there may be a way to get involved in some opportunities if its available.

I second the Fields recommendation - one of the few stats books I would read for fun. Also, I think Joel Scheider at Illinois State has a stats blog. From what I remember it was somewhat basic, but its worth look.