Distance Consulting in a University Statistical Consulting Lab: Two Case Studies

• Activity Number: 32
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, August 11, 2002 : 4:00 PM to 5:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Consulting*
• Author(s): Holmes Finch*+
• Affiliation(s): University of South Carolina
• Keywords: statistical consulting ; university consulting ; distance education

Abstract

University statistical consultants typically work with clients from many different disciplines and with varying levels of statistical sophisitication. In many cases, interactions with these clients involves multiple face-to-face meetings in which the two parties work through the complexities of the client's research and the statistical analysis.

With the increasing popularity of communication technology, such as e-mail and the internet, statistical consultants have a greater variety of tools at their disposal for consulting--particularly with clients who are not physically present, perhaps as a result of internship, residency, or research sabbatical. With the increasing possibility of such consulting come a number of issues, which both parties must be prepared to face.

This paper presents the results of two case studies of such interactions. The content of the interactions between the consultant and clients was examined, as well as the perceptions of each party as to quality of the consulting.