The Research Design and Analysis (RDA) Unit provides data analytic resources and collaborative services to associated investigators with the goal of enhancing the validity, rigor, and impact of their research. The RDA unit provides research design consultation to investigators regarding hypothesis development, study design, sample size determination and appropriate measurement techniques during research proposal development.

The unit’s data management activities include database design, data-collection instrument design, automatic scoring of instruments via scripts, data tracking procedures, data validation/quality control, and data storage, access, security, and confidentiality. The data can be collected from researcher designed scannable forms, from existing test publisher forms, or directly from online forms. 

The RDA unit assists researchers in identifying the appropriate analytical tools for assessing the proposed hypotheses within the context of the research design.

The unit helps in addressing issues of missing data treatments, solves issues involved with data anomalies, conducts advanced statistical analyses and helps researchers interpret and present results of statistical analyses. 

RDA employs four Ph.D.-level statisticians and a graduate student who conduct advanced analyses such as hierarchical linear modeling, structural equation modeling and time series analysis.  The database manager and a student assistant are responsible for the data management activities of the unit.

Initial requests for service

All initial requests for services are made through the RDA Coordinator, Kandace Fleming at kfleming@ku.edu or 785 864-0742.