Basic↦Statistic Methodology↦Statistics↦Statistical Software
What is it? Why is it important?
A statistical software is a computer program that allows users to perform statistical analyses. Statistical software are used in a wide range of fields, such as businesses, healthcare systems, and social sciences.
A statistical software typically has tools to allow the:
- Import and export of data
- Data manipulation/transformation (e.g. data may need to be converted, standardized, or restructured to be compatible with the analysis tools)
- Various statistical analyses in order to summarize and interpret the numerical information
- Visualization (e.g. graphs, histograms, pie charts)
Popular statistical software programs include R, Stata, SAS, and SPSS.
What do I need to do?
As a SP-INV, decide, in collaboration with your statistician, which statistical software system to use for your study.
Consider the use of a code-based software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS) over a menu-based software (e.g. Excel). Arguments include:
- Reproducibility: good research practices require that studies are reproducible (e.g. using the same analytical code and data source will produce identical results each time the analysis is repeated)
- Replicability: making the analytical code available to others, allows the study analysis to be replicated (e.g. conduct the same analysis using different data). This fosters research transparency
Where can I get help?
Your local Research Support Centre↧ can assist you with experienced staff regarding this topic
Basel, Departement Klinische Forschung (DKF), dkf.unibas.ch
Lugano, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU-EOC), ctueoc.ch
Bern, Department of Clinical Research (DCR), dcr.unibe.ch
Geneva, Clinical Research Center (CRC), crc.hug.ch
Lausanne, Clinical Research Center (CRC), chuv.ch
St. Gallen, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), h-och.ch
Zürich, Clinical Trials Center (CTC), usz.ch
References
ICH Topic E9 statistical Principles for Clinical Trials – see in particular
- 3.6 Data capture and processing