Likelihood and Bayesian Approaches to Data Analysis Workshop

This 4.5 day workshop provides an introduction to the use of statistical models as a tool to understand and predict ecological processes. Participants will learn quantitative tools used to link models to data, how to compare alternative models, and the utility of different modeling approaches through a combination of presentations, discussions, and practical exercises. The workshop covers basic probability theory, maximum likelihood methods, and Information Criteria with an emphasis on hierarchical Bayesian analysis and Monte Carlo Markov Chain. Most examples will be from population ecology, and participants will walk away with a suite of useful R and WinBUGS code and skills that they can adapt to their own ecological analyses. Bring your own data for some focused feedback and coding help during the workshop.