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Description

Statistical Modelling: Prepare, Fit and Interpret Your First Models

Understand what a statistical model actually says — and what it does not allow you to conclude

  • 1 day — 7 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

Model outputs circulate widely in reports and briefing notes: coefficients, significance thresholds, goodness-of-fit indicators. Many professionals are expected to comment on them, or challenge them, without the reading framework needed to tell a robust result from a fragile one.

This short-format programme covers the essentials of statistical modelling for beginners: data preparation, choosing a model according to the nature of the variable under study, reading model outputs and, above all, the precautions required when interpreting them. The emphasis is on critical reading rather than on calculation.

Learning objectives

  • Prepare a dataset by handling missing values and outliers
  • Select a model type suited to the nature of the variable to be explained
  • Read model outputs and identify the variables that genuinely carry weight
  • Verify the underlying conditions before giving credit to a result
  • Formulate a conclusion that does not go beyond what the data support

What makes this programme different

Every concept is introduced by reading an actual model output before any formula is presented
Participants practise spotting overstated conclusions in extracts from real reports
The same dataset is modelled in two different ways to show the impact of initial choices

Programme

1Preparing the Data and Specifying the Model

Half the work happens before any calculation

  • Types of variables and their consequences for model choice
  • Handling missing values and outliers
  • The variable to be explained and candidate explanatory variables
  • Splitting data between training and validation sets

2Fitting the Model and Reading the Results

Decoding a model output

  • Regression for a continuous variable and models for a binary variable
  • Reading coefficients and understanding their direction
  • Goodness-of-fit indicators and their limitations
  • The effect of variables correlated with one another

3Interpreting with Caution

What a model does not tell you

  • Underlying conditions to verify before drawing conclusions
  • The difference between observed association and cause-and-effect relationship
  • Overfitting and loss of performance on new data
  • Presenting results to a non-statistical audience

Who is it for

Research officers · analysts · statistical unit staff and professionals required to produce or comment on model results.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with the concepts of mean | dispersion and correlation.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.