New Statistics Software Released

New Statistics Software Released
SUDAAN: Software for the Statistical Analysis of Correlated Data

Contact: Reid Maness
(919) 541-7044
[email protected]
http://www.rti.org/patents/sudaan.html

Research Triangle Park, N.C.ó RTI has released Version 7.5 of its SUDAANÆ software. SUDAAN is the statistical software package that addresses correlated data issues in statistical analysis, issues that can lead to inaccurate analysis if not properly handled. New Features With Release 7.5, SUDAAN becomes the only software package with all three popular robust variance estimation methods: ∑ Taylor series linearization (GEE for regression models) ∑ Jackknife ∑ Balance repeated replication (BRR)

The new version has the ability to read SPSS files and an expanded range of options to be called directly from SAS". These features allow SUDAAN to complement these widely-used conventional statistical analysis packages.

Another new feature is a user friendly EFFECT statement that allows users to specify contrasts of regression coefficients and hypothesis tests using simple effect names. What is Correlated Data? Correlated data occur in many applications, including multi-stage sample surveys, clinical studies in pharmaceuticals and related medical sciences, public health and social research, epidemiology, toxicology, and economic analysis. Cluster-correlated data, recurrent events, multivariate outcomes, and longitudinal data all can be analyzed in SUDAAN.

SUDAAN allows analysts to specify how data are correlated and weighted. It provides an integral set of analytical procedures, all built for analysis of correlated data.

Procedures in SUDAAN include logistic and multinomial logistic regression, linear regression, proportional hazards modeling of time-to-event data, and descriptive analysis.

SUDAAN is available for PC, minicomputer, and mainframe environments.

(-##-) SUDAANÆ and RTI are trademarks of Research Triangle Institute. SASÆ is a trademark of SAS Institute, Inc. WindowsÆ, Windows 95, and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. SPSS is a trademark of SPSS, Inc. Sun and Solaris are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

SUDAAN Release 7.5 Available September 1997

www.rti.org/patents/sudaan.html

New Annual Licenses Annual licenses are now available for all versions of SUDAAN. Annual license prices for PC users start at $800 for the first user and $260 for each additional user for the first year. Renewal years are 50% of the first year price. University discounts are available. Universities with a five or more user PC licenses are granted free student use for degree required educational purposes. (http://www.rti.org/patents/sudaan/pdf_files/sudinfo1.pdf)

Student Versions If a university has a five or more user PC annual site license, students may obtain free copies of SUDAAN from the university site-license coordinator. Otherwise, students may purchase a two-year PC license for $295.

Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) SUDAAN Release 7.5 provides full GEE capabilities for linear regression, as well as binary and multinomial (polychotomous) logistic regression.

Variance Estimation Methods With Release 7.5, SUDAAN becomes the only software package with all three popular robust variance estimation methods: ∑ Taylor series linearization (GEE for regression models) ∑ Jackknife ∑ Balance repeated replication (BRR)

Compatibility with SAS and SPSS SUDAAN Release 7.5 adds more compatibility with SAS and SPSS. SUDAAN is now SAS-callable under Windows 95 and NT, in addition to the already available SAS-callable version for Sun/Solaris. Thus, SAS users are able to execute SUDAAN procedures within SAS programs just like any SAS procedures. Also, SUDAAN will read SPSS files on PCs. Thus, SPSS users will be able to use the standalone version of SUDAAN to analyze SPSS data sets quickly and easily.

Additional New Features New user friendly EFFECT statements allow users to specify contrasts of regression coefficients and hypothesis tests using simple effect names. The user can specify the reference level of a categorical variable used in a regression model. Also, least squares means are available for linear regression.

Summary of Recent Enhancements A complete summary of enhancements made to SUDAAN since Release 6.4. (http://www.rti.org/patents/sudaan/change75.htm).

Technical Reports ∑ "Application of the SUDAAN Software Package to Clustered Data Problems: Pharmaceutical Research." G.S. Bieler and R.L. Williams presented this workshop at the 1996 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM), twice to the U.S. FDA (February and June, 1996), and to the New Jersey Chapter of the ASA. The presentation is available in PDF format. (http://www.rti.org/patents/sudaan/pdf_files/sud_fda4.pdf) ∑ "Analyzing Repeated Measures and Cluster-Correlated Data Using SUDAAN Release 7.5" (Presented at the 1997 JSM, contains several GEE examples) (http://www.rti.org/patents/sudaan/pdf_files/GEE75.pdf) ∑ "Analyzing Survey Data Using SUDAAN Release 7.5" (Presented at the 1997 JSM, compares Taylor series, jackknife and BRR variance estimates) (http://www.rti.org/patents/sudaan/pdf_files/survey75.pdf)

Training: SUDAAN Basics (with computer labs)

Research Triangle Park, NC (near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, NC) November 17, 18, 19 1997

Registration Form http://www.rti.org/patents/sudaan/pdf_files/train2.pdf

Description of Training The 3-day SUDAAN Basics Course, with hands-on computer labs, introduces SUDAAN to new users and allows experienced users to get face-to-face help directly from SUDAAN's designers. Each course is taught by at least two qualified instructors: senior-level statisticians who use SUDAAN for analysis of clustered data on a regular basis. Small class sizes allow one-on-one consultation. This course will prepare students for running SUDAAN on every operating system in which SUDAAN is available. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own analysis problems for class discussion.

What is Covered? The statistical theory for parameter and variance estimation used in the SUDAAN software package is presented, as well as detailed instructions for data input and data analysis. The course covers the major SUDAAN programming statements and procedures, including the CROSSTAB, DESCRIPT, RATIO, and RECORDS procedures for descriptive statistics and the REGRESS, LOGISTIC, MULTILOG, and SURVIVAL procedures for regression analysis. Each lecture is accompanied by extensive examples and a discussion of results. Applications of SUDAAN for cluster-correlated and repeated measures data from epidemiology, clinical trials, and toxicology experiments are also demonstrated. Course content is approximately 60% survey sampling applications, and 40% correlated data analysis from experiments and observational studies.

Each attendee receives: ∑ a 300-page volume of class notes ∑ a volume of hands-on exercises (with diskette containing data sets and results) ∑ a series of short handouts on selected topics (e.g. references for further reading) The SUDAAN User's Manual is available for $60 each.

After attending this course, you will be able to: ∑ Understand when and why SUDAAN is appropriate for your data ∑ Specify your data for input to SUDAAN ∑ Specify your sample design and the appropriate variance estimation procedure in SUDAAN ∑ Estimate descriptive statistics and their standard errors from complex sample survey data: e.g., means, totals, proportions, ratios ∑ Estimate 1-way and multi-way frequency distributions, as well as odds ratios, relative risks, and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics from complex sample survey data ∑ Perform basic contrasts among a set of estimated means, totals, and proportions ∑ Fit regression models to complex sample survey data with binary, continuous, ordinal, nominal, and time-to-event responses ∑ Apply the same set of procedures in SUDAAN for the analysis of clustered data in non-survey situations: e.g., repeated measures and longitudinal data problems in clinical trials, epidemiology, toxicology, and other public health applications.

Course Information: ∑ Cost: $795.00 ∑ Optional additional $60 for The SUDAAN User's Manual. ∑ Student rate: $500 (maximum of 5 students per class). ∑ Payment may be made by check, credit card, or purchase order. ∑ RTI requires full payment and a completed registration form to reserve space. ∑ Information on local lodging and transportation will be provided with registration packets. Research Triangle Park is accessible from the Raleigh-Durham International airport (RDU).

On-site training is also available For information, email [email protected] or call 919-541-6602.