The statistics department: Making numbers talk.
At the heart of the institute is the Data and Statistics Management Service (SGDS), a key service since it is its members who will assist all the researchers or engineers in their research work and resulting projects.
When a scientist has a project with the objective of conducting a research trial, a study report including a detailed protocol. Then he or she works with the OMS to assess the feasibility of the study and to obtain a good statistical analysis plan. This plan includes all the steps in the statistical analysis of the data needed to solve the project's problem.
Even before the trial begins, the SDMS provides the project manager with methodological and statistical advice and makes proposals to complete and improve the established research protocol. In addition to writing the statistical part of the protocols and study reports, it calculates the number of subjects required, defines a random assignment list of treatments and ensures the management of the data sets. This will enable the project manager to carry out the study under optimal conditions and to obtain the best results. For this to happen, the setting up of the research trial must be clearly defined beforehand. This is a time-consuming but essential step.
Once the various parties involved in the study have validated the protocol, the research trial is carried out and the data are collected. Statistical analysis can begin by following the steps defined in the study report previously completed by the SDMS. These steps will depend on the study design of the trial, the nature of the data, the problem, the nature of the parameters, etc. This is the moment when the statistical service makes the figures speak for themselves by relying on solid statistical analysis techniques through the writing of a statistical report.
The statistical service also provides support in the drafting of scientific publications of the results obtained: articles, posters, etc. Indeed, the SGDS is responsible for proofreading as well as verifying the results and terms specific to the field of statistics. It also looks at the scientific rigour and interpretation of the results presented in these publications.
Beyond its advisory role, the SGDS therefore assists scientists in the development of protocols and in the planning of their trials. It provides scientists with the expertise and rigour of numbers, which are essential in this field.