Doctoral Support Center & Doctoral Programming Blog

Learn How to Use SPSS

SPSS is a computer program widely used for statistical analysis.  If you've ever wanted to learn how to use it, here's your chance. By popular request, ITS is offering a workshop in "really really basic SPSS."

From the ITS website:

When: Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 from 12:00 - 1:50pm

• Location: UPC, Salvatori Computer Science Center, Room 126

• Organizer: AnnMaria De Mars, (213) 740-2840 (Sponsered by: USC ITS)

  RSVP: http://www.usc.edu/its/adventures/rsvp.html

If you want to know how to open Excel files in SPSS, enter data in SPSS, compute basic statistics or make a simple graph, this is the workshop for you.

No previous knowledge of statistics or SPSS is assumed. Class members will create a new SPSS data set, enter data, and create simple reports, graphs and descriptive statistics. They will also open data from SPSS and Excel files and practice using common SPSS features such as creating total scores, creating labels and formats, and checking data quality.

This is a very hands-on workshop with lots of activities and exercises. You won't be lost and you will learn SPSS.

Breaking Down Writing Blocks

Need some help breaking through blocks in your dissertation writing? Here are some tips and advice.

Keep your thesis uppermost in you mind. A thesis is the dissertations main idea -- that is, what the dissertation is about. Everything needs to connect back to that thesis. Doctoral candidates who keep their thesis in mind produce clear and focused dissertations.

Study examples. A stumbling block in writing is that not having an image in our mind of the project should look. This is where good examples come in. After all, how can anyone write a literature review if they've never read one? If you can't readily find examples, ask your course professor or chair for recommendations. Chances are they have a file of their favorite examples.

Get organized! Take some time to organize your workspace (we all need a filing system) and thoughts. A few words can be enough to keep you on track. Learn to organize your work, your time, your space and to develop systems to monitor your progress.

Save, save and save. There's no such thing as saving too often. Make sure you save the most recent versions of your document on your computer and an external drive flash (like a flash or memory stick). Losing writing is terrible.

At the Doctoral Support Center we can help you break through roadblocks in your writing. Ideas for further support are getting involved with the Writing Groups, attending the upcoming ODA Weekend and attending GPSS's presentation on defeating writer's block. Come in and talk with us about your progress.

Spring ODA Weekend

Does your dissertation writing need a jump start? The DSC's Operation Dissertation Acceleration (ODA) can help and is taking applications!

ODA is an all inclusive residential writing retreat. It's designed for doctoral students who need / want to set aside a serious block of time to make a significant push toward the next step of their dissertation.

The retreat is targeted toward students who:

• Have research question(s) but have not been able to complete chapters 1, 2 and 3 (the proposal); OR
• Have defended their proposal and collected data, but have not completed chapters 4 and 5.

Retreat participants will be selected and assigned to work directly with a DSC writing instructor. The ratio of advisor to students will be 1-to-4, meaning students will have a great deal of support and interaction on their project. In addition, participants will exchange papers and support each other through peer-to-peer feedback.

• Workshop Dates: Thursday March 25 - Sunday March 28, 2010
• Application Deadline: at 12PM (noon), February 22, 2010
• Acceptance Notification: February 26, 2010
• Fee: $1500*
  First deposit due : 3/5/10 - $750
  Second deposit due: 3/19/10 - $750
  (*The first 8 students to register will receive a $400 scholarship and pay only $550 on each due date)

Apply early and the first eight applicants will receive a $400.00 scholarship that lowers the costs of the dissertation writing retreat to $1100.00. (This amount pays for the residential component of the retreat which is lodging, meals, and retreat logistical fees.)

If you are interested in  testimonials of past dissertation writing retreat participants please access the following online-presentation here. You will need to enter the username and password:

Username: rsoedoctoral

Password: doctoral1234

Operation Dissertation Acceleration (ODA) 2007 Testimonials Link.

Applications may be here: Download.

For more information email Dr. Ilda Jimenez y West.

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Photo attribution: / CC BY 2.0

Presentation: Writers Block and War Stories

Are you struggling to write? Feeling alone? Well you're not!  Hear from a panel of esteemed USC faculty how they overcame writer's block and successfully overcame many of the obstacles facing academics today. 

Date & Time - Wednesday Feb. 3rd, 2001, 12:30 - 1:30 PM 

Location - Career Center: Trojan Presentation Room

The first 40 students who RSVP to GPSSacad@usc.edu will receive a copy of Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD.

SPSS for Public Policy

In this hands-on workshop, participants will use data from public sources to import Excel files, create and merge SPSS files, compute new variables and perform descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. This workshop was designed for public policy graduate students but is open to all USC students, faculty and staff.

When: Monday, January 25, 2010 : 12:00pm to 1:50pm


Location: University Park Campus, Salvatori Computer Science Center, 126

Sponsored By:
USC Information Technology Services

Organizer: ITS Customer Support Center, (213) 740-2840

RSVP: http://www.usc.edu/its/adventures/rsvp.html

Using data from multiple datasets and formats (i.e., Excel and SPSS) participants will merge files to create an analytic dataset. They will use the menus to compute new variables, then include these variables in data analyses. The format is designed to use public datasets to answer specific questions of interest to public policy graduate students. SPSS features and functions will be taught in a hands-on format with a focus on solving real-life problems.

Descriptive statistics will be computed for use in the sample section of research reports. Bivariate correlations will be computed to compare relationships among dependent and independent variables. Multiple regression and regression diagnostics will be performed to test hypotheses.

Curious About Twitter?

The DSC has a Twitter account and we'd like you to follow us. But we realize you may have some questions.

What is Twitter? Twitter is a free social networking service that allows users to send and read messages known as tweets. It costs nothing to join and is easy to use.

At the DSC, our Twitter feed can notify you as soon as we update our blog. That way you won't need to wait for emailed updates.

For more information, contact Annemarie at the DSC.

Welcome Back!

The start of a new year and the looking forward to Spring are times of energy and renewal.  Here at the DSC we're excited about the 2010 Spring semester and looking forward to helping you meet your academic and research goals this term.  

This weekend the first of the semester's writing groups meet on Saturday in WPH 403  with Dr. Fischer.  If you missed orientation, don't worry.  Just contact Dr. Fischer for information about joining.

The schedule for our Spring presentations has been finalized -- just click the link to download!  The first will be Wednesday, January 27 at 3:00-4:00PM on the always important APA style.  It will be repeated on Saturday, January 30, 10:00AM-12:00PM and will also be available online for download. 

Mark your calendars! Does your dissertation need an extra push forward? The dates for Spring ODA - "Operation Dissertation Acceleration" - have been set. This intensive residential workshop will again be held in Malibu, March 25 - 28 2010 (application deadline February 19, 2010). More information and application details will be released soon so watch this space. 

Writing Groups Are Restarting!

 Start off the New Year with a renewed commitment to your research and writing!  

The writing groups are a forum available to students each semester as they continue to work on their proposal and dissertation. Students are encouraged to develop individual writing goals and schedules for the completion of their dissertation. We have had great success with the writing groups over the last year. This forum is an opportunity for students to stay engaged with the dissertation process and commit to meeting their goals for the semester. Please contact Dr. Fischer at lfischer@usc.edu if you are interested in participating in a writing group this semester.

Orientation for this semester is Saturday, January 16 at WPH Rm. 403.  The agenda can be downloaded below.

Agenda Spring WG Orientation 2010

If you were unable to attend orientation but are still interested in joining, please contact Dr. Fischer at lfischer@usc.edu  Groups are on-going throughout the semester.