FAQs - General Questions
How do I get started?
The easiest way to get started is to first contact the Centre and complete an initial consultation form.
A one-to-one meeting/initial consultation will then be scheduled with our staff statistician and can take place by Zoom or at the Centre's office in Woodview House on the UCD, Belfield campus.
After the initial consultation, a quote can be provided by the staff statistician, if required.
When should I consult with UCD CSTAR?
The earlier in a project the consultation begins, the better. UCD CSTAR can advise on all aspects of research, including formulating research questions, designing an appropriate study to answer these questions, strategies for measuring traits of interest, methods for analysing data of all forms, presentation of results, as well as responding to the peer-review process.
What should I do before the first consultation with UCD CSTAR?
The more organised your materials are before the meeting, the more that can be accomplished during the initial consultation. Some conceptual things that can be of benefit are to consider clearly stating your research questions and identifying the primary question, and subsequently which questions are secondary questions. This can help focus the conversation.
What should I prepare for the first consultation with UCD CSTAR?
Gather any documentation you have already prepared for the study. If you have already collected data, we can discuss GDPR requirements for the handling and processing of this data should you decide to proceed with our services. PLEASE DO NOT SEND US YOUR DATA UNTIL WE HAVE DATA TRANSFER AGREEMENTS IN PLACE. If you are dealing with data from surveys, a copy of the survey and any papers detailing the development of the survey and its reported properties can also be of benefit.
How can I make the most of my initial consultation?
Come prepared! If you have progressed far enough into your project that you have data collected, we can discuss this. Again, please do not send us your data.
What contracting options are available?
The standard option is for us to first consult with you, discuss your needs and estimate costs, all of which is free of charge. Subsequent time is charged at €184.50 per hour, including VAT where appropriate (€150 pre-VAT for UCD students/staff paying from a UCD cost centre/research account). For larger projects, the Centre can be held on retainer with details to be mutually agreed upon by the Centre and the individual or organisation conducting the research.
Does UCD CSTAR only work with organisations or research teams?
UCD CSTAR works with all levels of researchers and research teams. Individuals are encouraged to contact the Centre with any questions they may have.
How should UCD CSTAR be acknowledged in my work? Do I include my CSTAR advisor as a co-author?
If researchers accept advice from the Centre, an acknowledgement in any work products would be appropriate. If the Centre provides analysis and further services, an invitation for authorship is expected. The guidelines on authorship and acknowledgement by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors will be used as reference, http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html
Do I retain intellectual rights to my ideas that UCD CSTAR assists in developing?
UCD CSTAR is a consulting service. As such it is not in a position to - nor does it intend to - pursue intellectual rights or patents. The function of CSTAR is to improve research methods in biostatistics and health research, and so advance scientific work. As appropriate, CSTAR does expect to be acknowledged for their contributions to major works.
Will UCD CSTAR present my results for me at conferences?
While the most common contribution will be to advise methods for analysis and enable researchers to do their own analyses and present their results, there will be situations where the work requires more advanced analyses and support. In these situations, CSTAR staff may be prepared to do the analyses and present the results, as necessary. Fees would be charged as appropiate.
Will UCD CSTAR use my data for publications?
UCD CSTAR will only use data for publications with consent and co-authorship. When research requires developing a new method or extending a current method, the research community needs to be kept abreast of the advances. As such, there will be situations in which CSTAR staff will be presenting papers to the statistical community about the analyses within a particular study. With the author’s consent, these papers will include the results of the study in question.