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2024 - Summer School in Path analysis in ecology

June 2 to 7th, 2024

Course description

ECL 805* Analyse des pistes en écologie II (Path analysis in Ecology)

This course is for both Master's and PhD students.

* Please note this is the course code you will need to enter it when registering.

Ecologists often pose cause-and-effect hypotheses involving several variables in systems for which controlled randomised experiments are not possible. When this occurs one must use a set of statistical methods called "structural equations modelling" or "path analysis". In this intensive five-day course you will learn the basics of these methods and how to apply them in your ecological research. Theoretical sessions will be interspersed with practical sessions using the free R software. You are encouraged to use your own data sets whenever possible.

This course is listed as a doctoral level course, but MSc and post-docs can also take it. A maximum of 30 people can take this course and priority will be given to graduate students. The course begins at 9AM and runs until 5 PM each day except for the last day, which will end at noon.

Reservation

Content

The course content follows Shipley, B. 2016. Cause and correlation in biology: A user's guide to path analysis, structural equations, and causal inference with R, Cambridge University Press (2nd edition). You must have a copy and can order it from Cambridge University Press or from Amazon.

Since this summer school targets an international audience, the language of instruction is English but questions in French are welcome.

  1. Priority is given to graduate students (MSc, PhD) and post-docs and the total number of spaces is 30. People other than graduate students can register for the course if space is available.
  2. You must have a basic knowledge of statistical analysis (inferential tests, correlation, regression and linear models)
  3. You must have a basic knowledge of the R statistical software
  4. You must have a portable computer with R installed before the start of the course, including the following libraries: lavaan, ggm, piecewiseSEM and CausalToolbox (this last one is available from Github)

(including practical sessions for each)

  • Experimental methods, control of variables and their relationship with SEM
  • The concept of d-separation and the logic of the dsep test
  • Extensions of dsep models to more complex data types: glm, mixed models, phylogenetic corrections; the piecewiseSEM library
  • Covariance algebra; Structural equations; Free/fixed parameters; ML chi-square; the logic of SEM
  • The lavaan package in R for SEM; fitting, testing SEM; decomposing effects
  • The concept of latent variables; measurement models; fitting with lavaan
  • Types of latent variables and their importance for ecology
  • The full SEM model; robust methods; Monte Carlo chi-square; approximate fit indices
  • Multigroup models; phylogenetic corrections
  • Exploratory methods

    Online course

    The content of this course is also available as an online course for individuals, at any time, at this adress https://billshipley45.wixsite.com/onlinesem

    Note that the online version is not associated with the Université de Sherbrooke and you cannot obtain a university credit for the online version.

    Costs

    • Students registered at the Université de Sherbooke
      The course is part of the Master's and PhD programs in biology. It can be enrolled directly in your program at no extra cost. Credits associated with this course will be awarded automatically, if you complete the summer school requirements.
    • Students registered in another Quebec University
      You must register via the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI) platform. The course will be recorded in your student file, and any fees will be billed by your university. Credits associated with this course will be automatically awarded if you complete the summer school requirements.
    • Other students or people wishing to take part in the summer school
      Registration fees are paid by the Department of Biology and the Faculty of Science.

    Room reservations on campus

    A maximum of 15 dormitory rooms are available, each with a single double bed, are available for rent during the course.

    Obtaining credit

    These courses are part of the course offerings of the Biology Department of the Université de Sherbrooke.

    Students registered at another Quebec university must register via the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI) platform. The activity may be recognized in their program of study by their home university.

    Students at universities outside Quebec should contact their home institution to find out whether these credits can be recognized and, if so, how to organize the transfer.

    Official transcript

    You can obtain an official transcript for this course from the Université de Sherbrooke. You are responsible for arranging the transfer of credits

    Information you will need before registering

    • Family name

    • First name

    • Citizenship
    • City and country of birth
    • Mother's maiden name
    • Father's name
    • Mailing address
    • Email address

    • Canadian citizen and Quebec resident : permanent code number and a copy of your birth certificate
    • Canadian citizen from another province : copy of your birth certificate
    • Permanent resident: recto-verso copy of your permanent resident card and a copy of your birth certificate
    • Permanent resident who is now a Canadian citizen : recto-verso copy of you citizenship card and a copy of your birth certificate
    • Foreign citizen: a copy of your passport and a copy of your student permit

    • Canadian citizen: a copy of your birth certificate

    • Permanent resident of Canada: a recto-verso copy of your permanent resident card, a copy of your birth certificate and a copy of your : CSQ (certificat de sélection du Québec), if applicable

    • Permanent resident who is now a Canadian citizen: a recto-verso copy of your citizenship card and a copy of your birth certificate

    • Foreign citizen: a copy of your passport

    Deadline
    The deadline for registration, including receipt of all necessary documents, is April 15th.

    Documents and R functions to obtain before the course

    We will send each student a set of zipped files containing the documents, PowerPoint presentations, and R Studio files approximately two weeks before the start of the course. Make sure to tell us if you have not recieved them.

    Contact us

    Email : Bill.Shipley@USherbrooke.ca