Data Analysis

We offer a number of statistical and data consulting services to Harvard affiliates through our affiliates, the Harvard-MIT Data Center, the Center for Geographic Analysis, the Henry A. Murray Research Archive, and the Program on Survey Research. Most of this consulting is free of charge.

Trained experts provide instruction in many quantitative areas, including the basics of of statistical analysis, GIS methods, survey design, and the use of statistical software packages. We also provide individualized consulting on advanced topics.

We also maintain cutting edge technology infrastructure to support data analysis, including public computer labs and cluster computing facilities for large-scale data analysis.

GIS and Mapping

Social science research often involves the presentation and analysis of spatial information. Through the Center for Geographic Analysis (CGA) we have permanent, professional staff and GIS (geographic information systems) technology available to assist Harvard affiliates in understanding and utilizing geospatial data.  Specialists can assist you in using GIS files or formats; in creating maps; and in analyzing geospatial data. 

For those less familiar with the benefits or possibilities geospatial data provides, we provide regularly scheduled GIS Technical Training. One-on-one consulting is also available through Help Desk locations, open in both Cambridge and Longwood, or by making an appointment with a GIS expert.

CGA staff also deliver formal and contractual, technical service projects for researchers with grant funding. In these cases, you provide the base data, and we perform the analysis, delivering the results with technical documentation.

For inquiries, please contact the GIS Help Desk.

Large-Scale Data Analysis

Through our affiliate, the Harvard-MIT Data Center, we maintain and provide access to a large, professionally managed cluster of high-end computer servers, with considerable hardware and software infrastructure to support research and application development. HMDC has a dedicated team of senior systems administrators who maintain and support this infrastructure, and who provide help in using the IQSS Research Computing Environment (RCE) to solve research problems.

The RCE is a completely portable desktop environment that also provides large-scale data storage, transparent distributed computing, and cutting-edged statistical software. The statistical tools automatically take advantage of our distributed computing cluster, supporting much larger analyses than possible on desktop systems. And, for advanced distributed computing needs, we offer job and resource management software, which enables you to use resources on many machines simultaneously to increase overall computing power for larger statistical analysis.

The RCE is best known for its statistical applications, but it also offers a variety of standard, every day software, such as web browsers, email readers, word processors and office suites. All of this software is compatible with most Windows and Mac environments. And, you can bring your existing files into this environment and continue to use them as you normally would. Because the RCE is managed by HMDC experts, you are freed from having to manage multiple machines; to find, buy, install and upgrade software and hardware; to hunt down bugs; or to worry about regular back ups.

For more information see HMDC's Cluster Computing pages.

Statistical Consulting

IQSS, through the Harvard-MIT Data Center, has consultants who can assist you with your statistical analysis. We can help you get started, thinking through different approaches to your research problem and finding an appropriate statistical model. We also can help you learn new statistical software packages or how to apply a particular methodology. Our consultants are available both through general open office hours and by scheduling a specific appointment time.  

For more information, please see HMDC's Statistical Support.