A podcast series produced by The Methodology Center providing information on the Center’s methods, applications, and events.
Click the download links to save them to your computer.
Sustainability in the Methodology Center
with Tina Meyers and Amanda Applegate
March 26, 2013
In this special-edition podcast, host Aaron Wagner discusses sustainability with Methodology Center Green Team members Amanda Applegate and Tina Meyers. The conversation involves conservation efforts at the Center and around Penn State, as well as steps toward sustainability that anyone can take in their own home or office.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 – Introduction
00:57 – Sustainability at Penn State
02:42 – Sustainability at the Center (saving 12%)
05:35 – Sustainability in your office/home
07:47 – The impact of Sustainability Action on the workplace (with Linda Collins)
Sustainability Resources
Latent Class Analysis (LCA) Part 1: Common Questions about LCA
with Stephanie Lanza and Bethany Bray
November 26, 2012
Methodology Center scientists Stephanie Lanza and Bethany Bray and host Aaron Wagner discuss common, practical issues that arise in latent class analysis (LCA). Issues include selecting indicator variables, selecting a model, determining the necessary sample size, finding LCA software, and getting started in LCA. This is the first in a two-part podcast; the next podcast will address some of our recent research on LCA.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - Introduction
01:05 - What is LCA?
02:50 - How is LCA different from factor analysis?
06:48 - Indicator variables
10:54 - Model selection
14:30 - Sample size
19:07 - Software
20:06 - Getting started
Latent Class Analysis (LCA) Part 2: Extensions of LCA
with Stephanie Lanza and Bethany Bray
January 22, 2013
Stephanie Lanza and Bethany Bray discuss extensions of LCA with host Aaron Wagner. Topics include LCA with grouping variables and covariates, latent transition analysis, causal inference in LCA, and LCA with a distal outcome. The discussion assumes that users are familiar with LCA; part 1 provides introductory information.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Adding grouping variables and covariates to an LCA
12:42 - Causal inference in LCA
17:40 - Predicting distal outcomes using latent class membership
26:26 - Upcoming LCA trainings
New Methods for Smoking Research
with Megan Piper, Lisa Dierker, and Stephanie Lanza
August 28, 2012
Host Aaron Wagner interviews three researchers, Megan Piper of the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, Lisa Dierker of Wesleyan University, and Stephanie Lanza of the Methodology Center. They discuss time-varying effect models, the potential for ecological momentary assessment data to advance smoking research, and an upcoming the special issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research that will focus on new methods for smoking research
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - introduction
01:30 - Megan Piper: EMA data allows understanding of how quitting smoking works
05:40 - Lisa Dierker: TVEM lets us answer new questions about how people develop smoking behavior
09:12 - Stephanie Lanza: Advancing the methodology of smoking research
13:50 - Stephanie Lanza: Upcoming special issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research
Using Propensity Scores in Causal Inference
with Donna Coffman and Max Crowley
April 13, 2012
Host Aaron Wagner interviews Methodology Center Research Associate Donna Coffman and graduate student Max Crowley. They discuss using propensity scores for causal inference. This is also the topic Donna will present at the upcoming 2012 Summer Institute on Innovative Methods. Propensity scores allow researchers to determine cause and effect in experiments that were not randomized.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - introductions
01:17 - overview of propensity scores
05:53 - a hypothetical example / including confounders in the model
11:46 - ways to use propensity scores
17:29 - resources for using propensity scores
Adaptive Health Interventions and Causal Inference
with Daniel Almirall
February 24, 2012
Host Aaron Wagner interviews Daniel Almirall, Faculty Research Fellow at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and Investigator at The Methodology Center. The discussion focuses on sequential, multiple-assignment, randomized trials (SMARTs), which allow scientists to develop adaptive interventions. Danny works with Susan Murphy, the creator of SMART, to develop and promote this new methodological tool. Danny's work on causal inference is also discussed.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - introduction and Danny's background
02:38 - SMART designs for adaptive interventions
08:31 - SMART pilot studies
13:51 - an application of SMART
19:33 - causal inference
22:39 - publication update
Social Networks in Prevention Research
with Rachel Smith
December 7, 2011
Host Aaron Wagner interviews Rachel Smith, Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State, Investigator at The Methodology Center and affiliate of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics. The discussion focuses on the nature of social influence, the role of social networks in the spread and prevention of HIV, and the value of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - introduction
00:38 - social influence through communication
05:30 - behavioral researcher working in methodology
09:21 - social network theory in prevention research
11:07 - social networks and stigma in HIV work
15:39 - getting started in social network analysis
16:50 - working in Africa/working with undergraduates
2011 Summer Institute
with Linda Collins, Arthur Blank, Mildred Moldonado-Molina, and Kelvin Choi
September 29, 2011
New host Aaron Wagner interviews people in and around the Methodology Center’s 16th annual Summer Institute on Innovative Methods (September 8 - 9, 2011). Center Director, Linda Collins, presented a two-day workshop on the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), a framework for optimizing and evaluating behavioral interventions. During the workshop, Aaron sat down with some of the participants to discuss MOST, the Summer Institute, and applying new methods in their research. Arthur Blank, Mildred Moldonado-Molina, Kelvin Choi, and Linda Collins are interviewed.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - introduction
01:04 - MOST overview: Linda Collins, Director of The Methodology Center, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State
03:27 - participant interview: Arthur Blank, Associate Professor of Clinical Family & Social Medicine, Co-Director, Division of Research, Department of Family and Social Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
07:07 - participant and former trainee interview: Mildred Maldonado-Molina, Associate Professor of Health Outcome and Policy, University of Florida College of Medicine
12:30 - participant interview: Kelvin Choi, Research Associate at The University of Minnesota School of Public Health
16:22 - post-workshop reflections: Linda Collins
HealthWise South Africa
with Linda Caldwell, Ed Smith, and Linda Collins
August 5, 2011
Host Michael Cleveland interviews Linda Caldwell, Ed Smith, and Linda Collins. They discuss the history and future of HealthWise, a comprehensive risk-reduction, life-skills curriculum for adolescents in South Africa. The new phase of HealthWise is testing the effectiveness of the intervention's components. Ed Smith is the associate director of the Prevention Research Center at Penn State; Linda Caldwell is a professor of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management at Penn State; and Linda Collins is the director of The Methodology Center.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - introductions
00:47 - overview of HealthWise and project site
06:02 - experimental conditions in the new phase of HealthWise
12:38 - factorial experimental design
15:40 - powering a factorial experiment
17:00 - project time line
Configural Frequency Analysis
with Mark Stemmler
May 3, 2011
Host Michael Cleveland interviews Mark Stemmler, professor of psychological methodology and quality assurance and dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Germany. Dr. Stemmler was a visiting scholar at The Methodology Center in fall of 2010. Micheal talks with Mark about configural frequency analysis, a tool for the analysis of multivariate categorical data. They also discuss Dr. Stemmler’s experiences visiting The Methodology Center and teaching at Penn State.
Podcast Timeline:
00:00 - Introduction
00:48 - Dr. Stemmler's background and relationship with the Methodology Center
03:52 - Configural frequency analysis (CFA) overview
06:38 - Practical applications of CFA
09:18 - How to learn CFA
11:40 - Dr. Stemmler's experience visiting Penn State
Where Are They Now?
with Bethany Bray
March 10, 2011
Host Michael Cleveland interviews Bethany Bray, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Virginia Tech. Bethany was formerly the Assistant Director and a Research Associate at The Methodology Center. Michael talks with Bethany about her research interests, her experience as a pre-doctoral fellow in the Prevention and Methodology Training (PAMT) program here at Penn State, and her recently released article, "Modeling relations among discrete developmental processes: A general approach to associative latent transition analysis," in Structural Equation Modeling.
2010 Summer Institute on Longitudinal Methods
with Antje Rauers, Amanda Gottschall, Damon Jones, Niall Bolger, and Jean-Philippe Laurenceau
January 31, 2011
Host Michael Cleveland visits the Summer Institute on Longitudinal Methods (June 7-9, 2010). Interviews with attendees Antje Rauers, Amanda Gottschall, and Damon Jones; instructors Drs. Niall Bolger and Jean-Philippe Laurenceau; and organizer Dr. Stephanie Lanza.
Missing Data Analysis: Making it Work in the Real World
with John Graham
October 20, 2010
Host Michael Cleveland interviews John Graham, Professor of Biobehavioral Health and Human Development & Family Studies at Penn State, to discuss his recent Annual Review of Psychology article "Missing Data Analysis: Making it Work in the Real World." Please contact Dr. Graham at jgraham@psu.edu if you would like a PDF copy of the article. Podcast is available as a 2-part download.
An Odd Couple in Interdisciplinary Research
with Linda Collins and Daniel Rivera
August 30, 2010
Host Michael Cleveland interviews an odd couple in interdisciplinary research focused on optimizing behavioral interventions. Social scientist Linda Collins from Penn State and chemical engineer Daniel Rivera from Arizona State talk about their NIH Roadmap Initiative project.
Society for Prevention Research 2009 Cup Winners from PSU
with Beau Abar, Melissa Lippold, and C.J. Powers
June 4, 2010
Host Michael Cleveland interviews Beau Abar, Melissa Lippold, and C.J. Powers, members of the winning team of the 2009 Sloboda and Bukoski SPR Cup competition.
New Book on Latent Class and Latent Transition Analysis
with Linda Collins and Stephanie Lanza
May 5, 2010
Host Michael Cleveland interviews Linda Collins and Stephanie Lanza, authors of the new book, Latent Class and Latent Transition Analysis: With Applications in the Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences.
The Methodology Center's New Podcast Series - Methodology Minutes!
with Linda Collins
April 5, 2010
Introduction to The Methodology Center - who are we, what is our mission. Hosted by Michael Cleveland and Linda Collins.