Students and faculty intrigued by data analysis were in attendance at the Mountain Room of the University Union to see Katherine Klein of the University of Pennsylvania, the keynote speaker of a webcast that aired Friday.

The webcast, titled “Issues with Group Measurement,” focused on new methods of collecting and analyzing data.

The Office of Contract Administration and the Office of Research Administration, in partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis (CARMA) joined the CARMA Consortium Webcast Program. CARMA is a nonprofit branch of the School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Developing opportunities to strengthen faculty research capacities and creating an environment that is efficient and cost-effective are among the stated goals of the offices.

The series enables faculty and students to have access to supplemental training as well as the latest methodological research in various fields. David Earwicker, assistant vice president of the Office of Contract Administration and the Office of Research Administration, commends CARMA’s research methods and capabilities.

“We know that CARMA has world-class researchers, we just want to see how the content is delivered,” Earwicker said. Earwicker said that the webcast is the first for Sac State and that the administration wants to make sure that the program is useful before making a commitment to CARMA.

Sonya Lovine coordinated the event and said that the users of upcoming webcasts will be able to interact with the speakers via e-mail.

Students as well as faculty from various programs attended the webcast.

Kannon Yamada is a graduate student of international affairs. “I found it very informative,” Yamada said. “Some of the research methodologies that I learned could help my thesis writing efforts substantially.”

Others were not as impressed with the content.

Warren Smith, professor in the electrical and electronic engineering department, said the presentation wasn’t exactly what he expected. “The ideas presented could be helpful in the medical field, but the issues raised today don’t directly apply to what I am trying to do.”

Klein’s presentation employed several classes of sorting information as well as an overview of data analysis.”I think it will be helpful in the long run,” psychology major Jason Schaefer said.

The job of the Office of Research Administration is to provide information on funding opportunities as well as offering advice on project and budget development.

The Office of Contract Administration mediates when government agencies or private sector organizations want to contract with faculty members or student assistance. Contract Administration is responsible for Student Employment Services, a subdivision that works with private businesses and state agencies to provide job opportunities for students.

Currently more than 115 universities are members of CARMA’s webcast series. CARMA specializes in objective data analysis and have been contracted to analyze data by countless corporations, governmental agencies and private investors.

Companies and government agencies use CARMA’s research to make informed decisions about their respective operations.

Former student Michelle McGibbons said she enjoyed the webcast and plans on attending the future broadcasts.

“It’s also a great resource, and since it’s also free it’s perfect,” she said.

The next webcast will air on March 23. For more information call Sonya Lovine at 278-3668.

Jordan Guinn can be reached at [email protected]