2025 Applied Regression Workshop

Calvin University, June 16-18, 2025

Workshop Description

This course is designed to provide attendees with an understanding of regression modelling techniques, while providing hands-on coding examples in R. We will review linear regression, and address some of the potential challenges that arise, introducing generalized linear models (GLMs) for count data, presence/absence, and proportions. The course will touch on models that account for repeated measures data (mixed models) and make mention of further regression techniques (e.g., generalized additive models) that practitioners may come across. By the end of the course, attendees will gain the necessary skills to fit statistical models, assess their validity, analyze the relationship between variables, and interpret model outputs in a practical context.

A draft agenda is available.

Target Audience

The course is open to graduate students, researchers and professionals with basic statistical knowledge who want to learn how to analyze experimental and observational data with generalized linear regression models in R. This course can help you move beyond basic statistical models (t-tests, ANOVA, simple regression models…) in your teaching, research, or practice. We hope to have participants from a wide range of disciplines.

Registration

Limited space is available for this workshop. Registration is $125 and includes lunch each of the three days.

Register online now!

Calvin faculty and staff should inquire about a discount code.

Sponsors

This workshop is made possible at low cost to participants by the Vos Endowment for Excellence in Mathematics and Statistics of Calvin University.

Presenters

Dr Leslie New

Leslie teaches statistics at Ursinus College. Her research is applied stats to address questions of ecological interest, including long-term population consequences of animal responses to human disturbance, and the risk wind turbines pose to birds and bats. She loves to to fully incorporate uncertainty into management and conservation decisions. Leslie has skills with pastry and volunteers with the 501st Legion.

Dr Stacy DeRuiter

Stacy teaches statistics at Calvin University. In addition to wide-ranging stats consultancy collaboration, her research interests center around innovative statistical modeling and software tools for data from animal-borne data loggers to understand whale behavioral responses to human-made sounds at sea. She likes running, pottery, anything her kids like, and Statistics without Borders.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify situations when the use of generalized linear models (GLMs) are appropriate
  2. Correctly specify and fit GLMs in R
  3. Interpret fitted models, in technical and practical ways.
    • Technical: understand what you’ve done; for example, precise interpretation of categorical predictors
    • Practical: communicating results clearly
  4. Understand the principles of model selection & inference
  5. Visualize fitted models to check assumptions and communicate results
  6. Acquire the foundations and a first introduction to more complex regression models, including mixed models and generalized additive models

Dates and Location

Calvin University will be hosting an Applied Regression Worskhp June 16-18, 2025. Sessions will begin each day at 9 am and conclude at 4 pm. Lunch and mid-session refreshments will be provided.

Sessions will take place in SB 343, located on the third floor of the Science Building. (Note: DeVries Hall and North Hall are connected to the Science Building, and the three buildings are often referred to as the Science Building Complex. The Science Building is the middle section.)

Calvin University is located in Grand Rapids, MI.

There should be ample parking in lots 4 or 5 (the closest to the Science Building Complex).

Before You Arrive

To get the most out of the workshop, come with a laptop.

You will have the choice to work with a local installation of RStudio and R or to use an account on posit.cloud.

Before you arrive, review Install R/RStudio, which explains how to

Optional Pre-Workshop Self-Study

We also provide some additional, optional self-study tutorials in advance of the workshop for anyone interested.

We hope these are a useful reference if you want a refresher or to feel more prepared to dive into the workshop, but we’ll do our best to meet you where you’re at once you’re here.

On our tutorial site, items that might be useful prep for this workshop are:

  • R Basics, a relatively gentle primer on using R
  • The “Linear Models” section previews some of the day 1 workshop material, so have a peek if you want advance preparation. The Model fitting & equation section might be the one to review, if you want to choose just one.
  • We will make use of Quarto documents. It’s 100% optional to know what those are before you come, but if you want to explore, see Using Quarto

Should you find a problem with any tutorial, please report it vis the “Report an issue” link so we can fix it!

Workshop Materials

Lodging and Transportation

Prince Conference Center
Participants from out of town can choose to stay at the Prince Conference Center on Calvin’s campus. We have reserved a block of rooms (available until May 22). Follow these directions to find out more or to book a room.
Nearby hotels
There are also many nearby hotels.
Airport: GRR
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is located approximately 6 miles from campus. The Prince Conference Center provides shuttle service to/from the airport for guests who request this in advance.