Synthesis Statistics in E&E This is a module of the CIEE Living Data Project. Access to this Canvas site and associated materials is restricted to registered participants. To find out more about the Living Data Project, visit [https://www.ciee-icee.ca/ldp.html](https://www.ciee-icee.ca/ldp.html).  ### **Teaching team** #### Lead instructor(s): * Prof. Laura Pollock, McGill University ([laura.pollock@mcgill.ca](mailto:laura.pollock@mcgill.ca)) * Prof. Jennifer Sunday, McGill University ([jennifer.sundary@mcgill.ca](mailto:jennifer.sundary@mcgill.ca)) #### LDP postdocs: * Dr. Gracielle Higino, University of British Columbia—Vancouver ([higino@zoology.ubc.ca](mailto:higino@zoology.ubc.ca)) * Dr. Mike Lavender, University of Regina ([thomas.lavender@uregina.ca](mailto:thomas.lavender@uregina.ca)) * Dr. Sam Straus, McGill University and Université de Montréal ([samantha.straus@mcgill.ca](mailto:samantha.straus@mcgill.ca)) #### Teaching assistants: * Liam Johnson, University of British Columbia—Okanagan ([liamgwj@mail.ubc.ca](mailto:liamgwj@mail.ubc.ca))  ### **Course description** This course will provide an introduction and overview of approaches for synthesizing the highly structured, multi-sourced datasets that typify ecology, evolution, and environmental research, including data collation, integration, analysis, and visualization. Students will learn how to define their research question and scope in the context of other studies in their subfield and how to find and fill in gaps in understanding with additional datasets. We will also provide a broad overview of the different types of methods used for synthesizing data including hierarchical models, meta-analysis, model integration, and model updating, providing students a guide to navigating these methods and identifying methods to learn and use in their research. Students will develop skills in R programming, collaborative research, reproducible workflows, data analysis, and communication. ### **Meeting times** 04 October to 03 November 2022 Tue/Thu 8:00 am - 9:30 am PDT Tue/Thu 9:00 am - 10:30 am CST + MDT Tue/Thu 11:00 am - 12:30 pm EDT **Week 1**: Tue 04 October ([lesson 1]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/modules/gd59fc0b75160b8c8fbb81827ec375f7f "Lesson 1 (Tue 05 Oct 2021): "add short description here"")), Thu 06 October ([lesson 2]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/modules/g44474338765b927658b5c6ec76677c39 "Lesson 2 (Thu 07 Oct 2021): "add short description here"")) **Week 2**: Tue 11 October ([lesson 3]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/modules/g56abab374048864ebfe64330303e4b2a "Lesson 3 (Tue 12 Oct 2021): "add short description here"")), Thu 13 October [(lesson 4]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/modules/gf08f3a4fe3b95cd14a779d5331626674 "Lesson 4 (Thu 14 Oct 2021): "add short description here"")) **Week 3**: Tue 18 October ([lesson 5]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/modules/g44289e0af1aed6524f8101dcbdda2af3 "Lesson 5 (Tue 26 Oct 2021): Mixed modelling approaches to data aggregation")), Thu 20 October ([lesson 6]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/modules/g298d90a117755c47c7d50419e282c9ba "Lesson 6 (Thu 28 Oct 2021): Tutorial on mixed modelling in lme4"))  **No Classes**: Tue 25 October, Thu 27 October **Week 4**: Tue 01 November ([lesson 7]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/modules/g4cf6ff714ca47e0472dec1bce8a4e5fd "Lesson 7 (Tue 02 Nov 2021): Performing and interpreting a meta-analysis")) , Thu 03 November ([lesson 8]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/modules/gf0cc7392fcacba7a008482fe63aadd7f "Lesson 8 (Thu 04 Nov 2021): Tutorial on meta-analysis in metafor"))  ### **Zoom link** [https://ubc.zoom.us/j/69764176305?pwd=QkhBV0tSd0E0NlQ0U0xnZGJJWjR2UT09](https://ubc.zoom.us/j/69764176305?pwd=QkhBV0tSd0E0NlQ0U0xnZGJJWjR2UT09)  Meeting ID: 697 6417 6305 Passcode: 401349 Dial by your location +1 778 907 2071 (Vancouver) +1 647 374 4685 (Toronto) +1 647 375 2970 (Toronto) +1 647 375 2971 (Toronto) +1 204 272 7920 (Manitoba) +1 438 809 7799 (Montreal) +1 587 328 1099 (Alberta) +1 613 209 3054 (Ottawa) ### **Delivery format** * 8 sessions, 1.5 hours per session * Each week, there will be one session (Tuesday) primarily used for lecture and discussion, and one session (Thursday) of primarily hands-on training activities ### **Anticipated time commitment** In general, students in each Living Data Project module should anticipate approximately 30-45 work hours, in line with the normal expectations for one credit of coursework. This will comprise the following activities: 12 hours formal instruction in a class setting, 4 hours of individual/small group mentoring, 5 hours of preparatory reading, up to 15 hours on required assignments. ### **Pre-requisites and pre-course preparations** * Graduate-level thesis in ecology, evolutionary biology, or environmental science * Introductory R programming experience ### **Required materials** * Personal computer with videoconferencing ability and reliable internet access * R and RStudio * Please see [these instructions]($WIKI_REFERENCE$/pages/instructions-for-students-r-and-rstudio "Instructions for students: R and RStudio")[](https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/75698/pages/instructions-for-students-r-and-rstudio "Instructions for students: R and RStudio") for installing the latest versions R and RStudio, or checking which versions you're currently running **Note**: we focus on the use of open-source and free software and tools to maximize accessibility. ### **Assessments** * [Mental model]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/assignments/g25a4f1bc2d3c71792fc5a20426bace20 "Mental model (individual assignment)") (individual; 25%) — develop a mental model for your research Due date: **Tuesday 12 October 2021 @ 11:59 pm PDT** * [Meta-evaluation of data synthesis]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/assignments/g6b6ab59eec3d72ceab36ade456a9e29b "Meta-evaluation of meta-analysis (individual assignment)") (individual; 65%) — evaluate a meta-analysis or data aggregation study against the 10 appraisal questions from (or inspired from) [Nakagawa et al. (2017)]($IMS-CC-FILEBASE$/Nakagawa%20et%20al.%202017%20BMC%20Biol.pdf?canvas_=1&canvas_qs_wrap=1 "Nakagawa et al. 2017 BMC Biol.pdf") Due date: **Wednesday 10 November 2021 @ 11:59 pm PST (after end of course)** * [Participation]($CANVAS_OBJECT_REFERENCE$/assignments/ge842b9e257e48d143ea6307b562e00a3 "Participation") (10%) — individual participation in class activities ### **Online resources** All relevant course materials will be housed on Canvas. All public materials for this and associated courses will also be archived and available on the Open Science Framework (OSF) component and wiki pages for the [Living Data Project](https://osf.io/ych3w/) (see the course outline [here](https://osf.io/a9k5b/wiki/Course%20outline/)). ### **Office hours / Getting help** #### Office hours Postdocs will host weekly open office hours where you can ask questions about course material, assignments, LDP training opportunities, career development, etc. Students are welcome to attend any office hours that work with their schedule. * **Tuesdays** @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT / 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST + MDT / 12:00pm - 1:00 pm PDT (Sam) [Join Zoom Meeting](https://mcgill.zoom.us/j/89373048238?pwd=Z3hUZHFsa250SnhvVk9TTndrSUU4QT09) (meeting ID: 893 7304 8238; passcode: 833708) * **Wednesdays** @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT / 11:00 am - 12:00 pm CST + MDT / 10:00 am - 11:00 am PDT (Mike and Liam) [Join Zoom meeting](https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/j/94741619853?pwd=UENFM3ZKTmNEY1pVdFNaSyt5QzFrUT09) (meeting ID: 947 4161 9853; passcode: 890794) * **Thursdays** @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT / 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CST + MDT / 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PDT (Gracielle) [Join Zoom meeting](https://ubc.zoom.us/j/65801308243?pwd=c2RNR1d1bDdhWEVRaFJabzV2NVhJdz09) (meeting ID: 658 0130 8243; passcode: 144968) #### Getting help For help with course material, students are encouraged to contact their primary mentor as follows: * **UBC-V** and **CIEE member universities\***: Gracielle Higino ([higino@zoology.ubc.ca](mailto:higino@zoology.ubc.ca)) * **Regina** and **UBC-O**: Mike Lavender ([thomas.lavender@uregina.ca](mailto:thomas.lavender@uregina.ca)) * **UdeM**, **McGill**, and **CSEE-affiliated students\*\***: Sam Straus ([samantha.straus@mcgill.ca](mailto:samantha.straus@mail.mcgill.ca)) **\*** Other CIEE member universities: Carleton, Simon Fraser, Guelph, Manitoba, UQaM, Queen's, Toronto **\*\*** CSEE-affiliated students: participants from all other Canadian universities You can email the postdocs or course instructor directly from Canvas by navigating to your [Inbox](https://canvas.ubc.ca/conversations#filter=type=inbox) (this will send an email through the address you used to create your CWL). If you cannot reach your designated mentor, please feel free to contact another instructor or teaching assistant. ### **Code of conduct** Participation in this course and all other functions of the Living Data Project requires adherence to our [Code of Conduct]($WIKI_REFERENCE$/pages/ldp-code-of-conduct "LDP Code of Conduct")[](https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/75698/pages/ldp-code-of-conduct "LDP Code of Conduct"). Please review the Code of Conduct before the beginning of the first class. **International students at UBC are directed to read [this statement]($WIKI_REFERENCE$/pages/statement-for-review-by-international-students-at-ubc "Statement for review by international students at UBC")[](https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/75698/pages/statement-for-review-by-international-students-at-ubc "Statement for review by international students at UBC").** ### **Territorial acknowledgement** The Living Data Project is a collaborative effort by researchers at institutions across Canada. We collectively acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional, ancestral, treaty, and unceded territories of many Indigenous peoples, including the Coast Salish Peoples, xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Syilx (Okanagan), nêhiyawak (Cree), anihšināpēk (Saulteaux), Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda, Attawanderon, Mississaugas, kanien’kehà:ka (Mohawk), and Haudenosaunee, and the homeland of the Métis/Michif Nation. The LDP brings together instructors and students from many different places with distinct Indigenous traditions and colonial histories.  We encourage all participants to seek more information about the traditional territories on which they live: [https://native-land.ca](https://native-land.ca)