Description:  This 3-day workshop on the design, implementation and analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) is designed as an introductory session for people with an interest in trials, but with limited experience in undertaking them in educational settings. The goal is to increase the capacity of researchers to develop and conduct rigorous evaluations of the impact of education interventions. The workshop will provide intensive training on planning, implementing and analyzing data from an RCT, enabling participants to:

• Describe the principles underlying randomized experiments and their advantages for making causal inferences.
• Understand when it is, and when it is not, appropriate to propose an RCT design
• Design an RCT taking into account the practical limitation of the field, as well as the hierarchical structure of populations in education.
• Adequately describe the treatment and counterfactual, and measure implementation fidelity.
• Understand many of the common pitfalls in implementing RCTs in the field.
• Appropriately analyze the data from an RCT, and provide adequate context to the results.
• Acquire knowledge about how educational evaluations are reviewed and rated.

The workshop will be interactive, with individual and small group assignments, and will include real-world examples from both the literature and the presenters own experience.

Instructor: Jennifer Hamilton, Westat

Location: UGA Hotel and Conference Center

Cost: $799 (includes workshop materials, refreshment breaks, lunch and parking passes each day)

Register Now!  Registration Deadline: May 15, 2013

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Description:  In this exciting and engaging three-day workshop, qualitative researchers, instructors of qualitative research methods, and graduate students will learn about the philosophical and methodological foundations of phenomenology; practice some of the core methodological techniques commonly used in descriptive and interpretive phenomenological research; and engage deeply in the presenter’s post-intentional phenomenology. This workshop is designed to be primarily application-oriented.

Instructor: Mark Vagle, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota

Location: UGA Hotel and Conference Center

Cost: $625 (includes workshop materials, refreshment breaks, lunch and parking passes each day)

Register Now!  Registration Deadline: May 22, 2013

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Description:  Multilevel models are widely used statistical methods with names such as hierarchical linear models and random or mixed effects models. This workshop presents an introduction to multilevel models featuring their use in longitudinal analyses. By attending the workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of the modeling approach and will be able to conduct basic longitudinal analyses. Topics covered include analyses for basic repeated measures data, analysis of growth curves, within-person fluctuation, and simultaneous prediction of multiple sources of variation. The course will feature example handouts and syntax from SAS.

Instructor: Jonathan Templin, University of Georgia

Location: UGA Hotel and Conference Center

Cost: $650 (includes workshop materials, refreshment breaks, lunch and parking passes each day)

Register Now!  Registration Deadline: May 29, 2013

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Description:  This workshop will provide a foundation in structural equation modeling by introducing participants to the basics of model estimation, evaluation of model fit, and model interpretation for basic structural equation models. The models to be covered included path models, confirmatory factor analysis models, and full structural models. Instruction will consist of lectures and hands-on activities. As part of the workshop, participants will be instructed in the use of the LISREL computer package. Afternoon activities will involve conducting analyses using the LISREL package.  If
time permits, participants will also be provided help in analyzing their own data.

Instructor: Deborah Bandalos, James Madison University

Location: UGA Hotel and Conference Center

Cost: $1,099 (includes workshop materials, refreshment breaks, lunch and parking passes each day)

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