Workshop

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-	=== Workshop on Respondent-driven Sampling Analyst Software ===	+	'''UPCOMING WORKSHOPS'''
-	JUNE 15 AND 16, 2010	+
-	'''Venue''':  University of California, San Francisco.  50 Beale Street, Suite 1200 (12th Floor)
-	'''Sponsor''':  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Global AIDS Program, Surveillance Branch	+	'''RDS Analyst'''
		+	October 26-30, 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia: http://www.whohub-zagreb.org/902
-	==Description==	+	'''RDS Analyst'''
		+	November 30 to December 4, 2015 in Kiev, Ukraine
-	RDS is a relatively new methodology used worldwide to gather HIV prevalence and risk factors data from hard to reach populations.  In this workshop, the Hidden Population Methods Research Group (HPMRG) is pleased to introduce a new comprehensive, user friendly and open-source software package for the analysis of RDS Data.  The new software, RDS Analyst (RDS-A), includes a user friendly point-and-click graphical user interface allowing for the computation of new and existing estimators and standard errors, visualization of recruitment chains, and diagnostic analysis. It allows for the analysis of multiple variables at once, and the saving and re-use of syntax.  For more technical users, the package may also be accessed through a command line interface to the open-source R programming language (http://www.r-project.org/).	+	'''RDS Methods and RDS Analyst'''
		+	January 4-8, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
		+	Contact: lsjohnston.global@gmail.com
-	The purpose of this 2-day workshop is to introduce RDS-A to researchers already experienced in RDS methodology and statistics.  Participants will receive training on the RDS-A state-of-the-art analysis and graphic functions and will be asked to provide feedback in the interest of improving the software prior to more widespread distribution among users of RDS.	+	'''RDS Methods and RDS Analyst'''
		+	February 29-March 4, 2016 at ECPR Winter School Bamberg, Germany: http://ecpr.eu/
-	This workshop is designed as an introduction to the analysis of RDS data using RDS-A.
-	It will cover the full RDS-A suite of functions.  This begins with data entry and loading data, coding missing data, and re-coding variables.  It then treats descriptive and diagnostic methods including visualization methods, followed by existing and new tools for estimation, testing models, confidence intervals and sensitivity analysis. The workshop concludes with an introduction to the re-usable syntax and R command line capabilities of the software.
-	Workshop participants currently working with RDS data will be encouraged to bring these data, and evaluate them using RDS-A.	+	=== Past Workshops on RDS Analyst Software ===
		+	March 17 - 21, 2014
-	The workshop will be open to researchers in epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences with experience using RDS methodology, theory and statistics.  You will need to bring a lap top.	+	'''Venue''':  WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV Surveillance
		+	School of Public Health “Andrija Stampar”
		+	Rockefellerova 4
		+	10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
-	The workshop is free, however all travel and other expenses are covered by the participant. We will be forward an agenda and any other pertinent information once you register.	+	'''Sponsor''': WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV Surveillance
-	== Outline ==	+	==Description==
-	[http://hpmrg.org/files/rdsaoutline.pdf Outline as PDF]	+
-	== Presentations ==	+	RDS is a relatively new methodology used worldwide to gather HIV prevalence and risk factors data from hard to reach populations. In this workshop, the Hard-to-Reach Population Methods Research Group (HPMRG) is pleased to introduce a new comprehensive, user friendly and open-source software package for the analysis of RDS Data. The new software, RDS Analyst (RDS-A), includes a user friendly point-and-click graphical user interface allowing for the computation of new and existing estimators and standard errors, visualization of recruitment chains, and diagnostic analysis. It allows for the analysis of multiple variables at once, and the saving and re-use of syntax. For more technical users, the package may also be accessed through a command line interface to the open-source R programming language (http://www.r-project.org/).
-	* [http://hpmrg.org/files/RDSAIntroduction.pdf Introduction]	+
-	* [http://hpmrg.org/files/SamplingFundamentalsPresentation.pdf Sampling: A Brief Review], including the [http://hpmrg.org/files/FiguresforSamplingFundamentals.pdf figures].	+
-	== RDS Analyst Software ==	+	The purpose of this three-day workshop is to introduce RDS-A to researchers already experienced in RDS methodology and statistics.  Participants will receive training on the RDS-A state-of-the-art analysis and graphic functions and will be asked to provide feedback in the interest of improving the software prior to more widespread distribution among users of RDS.
-	[[RDS_Analyst_Manual RDS Analyst manual]], including installation instructions.	+	This workshop is designed as an introduction to the analysis of RDS data using RDS-A.
-	== Papers ==	+	It will cover the full RDS-A suite of functions.  This begins with data entry and loading data, coding missing data, and re-coding variables.  It then treats descriptive and diagnostic methods including visualization methods, followed by existing and new tools for estimation, testing models, confidence intervals and sensitivity analysis. The workshop concludes with an introduction to the re-usable syntax and R command line capabilities of the software.
-	* [http://hpmrg.org/files/gilehandcockSM2010.pdf ''Respondent-Driven Sampling: An Assessment of Current Methodology''] by Krista J. Gile and Mark S. Handcock. To appear in ''Sociological Methodology'', 2010.	+	Workshop participants currently working with RDS data will be encouraged to bring these data, and evaluate them using RDS-A.
-	= Notes taken during the day =	+	The workshop will be open to researchers in epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences with experience using RDS methodology, theory and statistics.  If possible please bring a lap top. if you can not you should be able to share with someone who does.
-	==Sampling: A Review ==	+	The workshop is free, however all travel and other expenses are covered by the participant.  We will be forward an agenda and any other pertinent information once you register.
-	=== Sampling M&Ms ===	+	== Outline of the Workshop ==
		+	[http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/rdsaoutline2013.pdf Outline as PDF]
-	* Screen of the table: The goal is to determine the proportion of red in each bag?	+	== Presentations ==
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/I.pdf I. Introduction and Logistics]
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/II.pdf II. Overview of RDS from a Statistical Perspective]
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/III.pdf III. Structure of the RDS-A program]
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/IV.pdf iV. Basic Analysis]
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/V.pdf V. Preparing data for uploading to RDS-A]
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/VI.pdf VI. Exploratory Data Analysis and Diagnostics]
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/VII.pdf VII. Estimation of population proportions and means]
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/VIII.pdf VIII. Estimation of uncertainty: confidence intervals and standard errors]
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/IX.pdf IX. Data Issues: Recoding, transformations, missing data]
		+	* Step-by-step anatomy of a full RDS analysis
-	* Kitchen side of the table: The goal is to determine the proportion of orange in each bag?	+	Background Materials
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/SamplingFundamentalsPresentation.pdf Sampling: A Brief Review], including the
		+	* [http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~handcock/hpmrg/files/FiguresforSamplingFundamentals.pdf figures].
-	The four bags have: 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%	+	== RDS Analyst Software ==
-		+
-	Four bags:	+
-	{|	+
-	|    || Screen||  Kitchen  ||	+
-	-	+
-	|A = ||      ||  E      ||	+
-	-	+
-	|C = ||      ||          ||	+
-	-	+
-	|B = ||      ||          ||	+
-	-	+
-	|H = ||      ||          ||	+
-	|}	+
-		+
-	Repeated sampling without replacement. Sample	+
-		+
-	Screen: 0%, 75%, 0%, 25%	+
-	Kitchen:  0%, 75%, 0%, 25%	+
-		+
-	=== Fundamentals of Sampling ===	+
-		+
-	Sampling sizes: 300-500	+
-	Population sizes:	+
-	SFO: 60K	+
-	Africa: 2-3K	+
-		+
-	In USA usually choose cities with large at risk populations	+
-	On key behaviors the sample proportion can be 50%	+
-		+
-	= Discussion =	+
-		+
-	* How to define homophily? Homophily is a very general term (like "cluster", or "dependence"). There is a definition in RDSAT, Gile's thesis and in RDS-A. How many do we need? Which is best for which circumstances.	+
-	* For summary statistics, homophily should be measured on readily observable characteristics, even though the key homophily measure is that on the outcome variable (e.g., disease status).	+
-		+
-	* How many coupons? One rule is 3-5 per respondent. How should this be determined?	+
-		+
-	* Importance of a simulation study of confidence intervals based on Salganik and Gile's SS bootstrap procedures	+
-		+
-	* How to determine the number of friends a respondent knows that are HIV positive?	+
-	**	+
-		+
-	* Non-preferential distribution of coupons is an assumption of current estimation methods. What diagnostics can we compute or develop for it?	+
-		+
-	* In RDSAT, dual-component computes individualized weights for export to another program to allow use in more advanced statistics.	+
-	** The multiplicity estimator is the Salganik-Heckathorn (RDS-I) estimator.	+
-		+
-	* What are the needs and issues with regression methods for RDS data?	+
-		+
-	* Suppose the sample proportion was low, but there is differential activity. How will the various estimates perform?	+
-		+
-	* How does sampling with or without replacement influence variance? Differing results between Salganik & Goel and Gile's results. Why is this?	+
-	* Real-world issues that might effect simulations. For example, people always respond, and coupons are all returned.	+	[http://www.deducer.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.RDSAnalyst RDS Analyst manual and download], including installation instructions.
-	** In the real-world the coupon return rate is about 30%.	+
-	*Is there information in the secondary interview in the question about if your coupon was refused because others were in the study?	+	== Background Papers ==
-	** Krista and Lisa are working on related issues	+
-	* What about very small population sizes (relative to the sample size)? When the sample fraction is large, the SS estimator is still appropriate as it is primarily developed to address large sample fraction effects.	+	* [http://arxiv.org/abs/0904.1855 ''Respondent-Driven Sampling: An Assessment of Current Methodology''] by Krista J. Gile and Mark S. Handcock. Pre-print of ''Sociological Methodology'', 40, p 285-327, 2010.
-	** If it is very small, then RDS can be used as a data collection method rather than using the sampling mechanism as a basis for inference.	+
-	* For the model-assisted method, for are the standard errors computed? How do the standard errors compare to that of the design-based estimators.	+	== Announcements and Discussion Forum ==
-	** The ''true'' standard errors appear to be smaller (as shown in the presentation).	+
-	= Long-term software goals =	+	[http://lists.stat.ucla.edu/mailman/listinfo/rdsanalyst_help/ Subscribe to the list]
-	* Add population simulation capability to provide a "virtual laboratory" within which to assess changes in the sample design	+	== Notes taken during the workshop ==
-	* Add a RDS simulation capability to allow virtual or real populations to be sampled repeatedly so as to assess different sample designs and estimation methods	+
-	* With this you can, for example,:	+
-	** Do "power computations"	+
-	** What is the best number of coupons to use?	+
-	* Add an option to set a random number "seed" value. Where to put it?	+

---

Current revision as of 18:41, 3 November 2020

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

RDS Analyst October 26-30, 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia: http://www.whohub-zagreb.org/902

RDS Analyst November 30 to December 4, 2015 in Kiev, Ukraine

RDS Methods and RDS Analyst January 4-8, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Contact: lsjohnston.global@gmail.com

RDS Methods and RDS Analyst February 29-March 4, 2016 at ECPR Winter School Bamberg, Germany: http://ecpr.eu/

Contents 1 Past Workshops on RDS Analyst Software 2 Description 3 Outline of the Workshop 4 Presentations 5 RDS Analyst Software 6 Background Papers 7 Announcements and Discussion Forum 8 Notes taken during the workshop

Past Workshops on RDS Analyst Software

March 17 - 21, 2014

Venue: WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV Surveillance School of Public Health “Andrija Stampar” Rockefellerova 4 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Sponsor: WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV Surveillance

Description

RDS is a relatively new methodology used worldwide to gather HIV prevalence and risk factors data from hard to reach populations. In this workshop, the Hard-to-Reach Population Methods Research Group (HPMRG) is pleased to introduce a new comprehensive, user friendly and open-source software package for the analysis of RDS Data. The new software, RDS Analyst (RDS-A), includes a user friendly point-and-click graphical user interface allowing for the computation of new and existing estimators and standard errors, visualization of recruitment chains, and diagnostic analysis. It allows for the analysis of multiple variables at once, and the saving and re-use of syntax. For more technical users, the package may also be accessed through a command line interface to the open-source R programming language (http://www.r-project.org/).

The purpose of this three-day workshop is to introduce RDS-A to researchers already experienced in RDS methodology and statistics. Participants will receive training on the RDS-A state-of-the-art analysis and graphic functions and will be asked to provide feedback in the interest of improving the software prior to more widespread distribution among users of RDS.

This workshop is designed as an introduction to the analysis of RDS data using RDS-A.

It will cover the full RDS-A suite of functions. This begins with data entry and loading data, coding missing data, and re-coding variables. It then treats descriptive and diagnostic methods including visualization methods, followed by existing and new tools for estimation, testing models, confidence intervals and sensitivity analysis. The workshop concludes with an introduction to the re-usable syntax and R command line capabilities of the software.

Workshop participants currently working with RDS data will be encouraged to bring these data, and evaluate them using RDS-A.

The workshop will be open to researchers in epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences with experience using RDS methodology, theory and statistics. If possible please bring a lap top. if you can not you should be able to share with someone who does.

The workshop is free, however all travel and other expenses are covered by the participant. We will be forward an agenda and any other pertinent information once you register.

Outline of the Workshop

Outline as PDF

Presentations

• I. Introduction and Logistics
• II. Overview of RDS from a Statistical Perspective
• III. Structure of the RDS-A program
• iV. Basic Analysis
• V. Preparing data for uploading to RDS-A
• VI. Exploratory Data Analysis and Diagnostics
• VII. Estimation of population proportions and means
• VIII. Estimation of uncertainty: confidence intervals and standard errors
• IX. Data Issues: Recoding, transformations, missing data
• Step-by-step anatomy of a full RDS analysis

Background Materials

• Sampling: A Brief Review, including the
• figures.

RDS Analyst Software

RDS Analyst manual and download, including installation instructions.

Background Papers

• Respondent-Driven Sampling: An Assessment of Current Methodology by Krista J. Gile and Mark S. Handcock. Pre-print of Sociological Methodology, 40, p 285-327, 2010.

Announcements and Discussion Forum

Subscribe to the list

Notes taken during the workshop