Frequently Asked Questions

What does YCAS do?: YCAS provides collaboration, services, and expertise in:

Study Design: Clinical Trial Design; Epidemiological Study Design; Complex Survey Design

Analysis: Exploratory Data Analysis; Longitudinal Data Analysis; Survival Analysis; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis; GIS Analysis; Spatial Analysis; Bayesian Statistical Analysis; Analysis of Clinical Trial Data; Missing Data; Statistical Genetics

Psychometrics and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM): Development, Construction and Testing of Scales and Measuring Instruments; Item Response Theory; Latent Variable and Structural Equation Modeling

Big Data: Analysis of Electronic Health Records and Public Use Data; Machine Learning; Data Coordination; Statistical Programming.
Who can use the Yale Center for Analytical Sciences (YCAS)?: The services of the center are available to any researcher that needs statistical collaboration. The services are not limited to Yale University and its affiliated faculty, though Yale faculty and staff are given preferential treatment.
At what stage of my research should I contact a YCAS statistical scientist?: The Yale Center for Analytical Sciences is available for collaboration at any and all stages of your research. However, if you are able to contact us in the pre-proposal stages of your investigation and closely collaborate with our analytical scientists, it can markedly improve scientific productivity.
Increased scientific productivity through analytical collaboration? How so?: The Yale Center for Analytical Sciences is available for collaboration at any and all stages of your research. However, if you are able to contact us in the pre-proposal stages of your investigation and closely collaborate with our analytical scientists, it can markedly improve scientific productivity.
How do I set up an appointment?: Please complete our intake form here.
I’m a junior researcher and my budget is very tight. I know statistical support can be very time intensive. Is there any way that you can help me?: We are committed to assisting junior researchers in any way we can. For researchers who are in the early stages of their project, we offer free 30-minute weekly.

We offer free 50-minute analytics clinics for researchers who have already collected data and need help with the analysis.
Are the free services available only to junior researchers?: No. The clinics are open to the entire Yale community.
I’ve been to the free clinic. But my project requires further collaboration. What’s next?: It depends largely on the advice you seek. If you're looking for help with a grant proposal, provide a draft of the proposal's aims, even if in an early stage of development. It helps to see something written, especially something that clearly articulates your working hypotheses, research goals, and expectations. You may also send any articles or written proposals that might help us better understand your research, and what we might do to help.
I’m already way past the research and design stage. I wish I had contacted you sooner, but now all I need is analysis. Will YCAS help me analyze my data?: We will certainly do our best. Please bring along a copy of the protocol you used for gathering your data, a copy of the data itself, and any results you may have. The better your data, the better we can help you maximize its potential.