| NCSS 2007 Upgrade
We are
happy to announce that NCSS 2007 is now available for purchase. This
edition adds several new procedures and features to NCSS,
including mixed models, an enhanced
user interface, and the ability to create macros, which add
programmability and streamline repeated tasks. The graphics
capabilities have also been greatly enhanced with the addition of
color selection tools that allow you to create and choose from
millions of colors for inclusion in NCSS charts and graphs. A new
Quick Launch window has been added, which makes finding and
launching a new procedure easier than ever before. The Help System
has also been improved to make it easier than ever to use.
All templates from previous versions of
NCSS are fully compatible with NCSS 2007.
NCSS 2007 is fully compatible with Windows
7, Vista, and XP on both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.
New Procedures
Mixed Models
Circular Data Analysis
Data Matching -
Optimal and Greedy
Data
Simulator
Data
Stratification
Double
Dendrograms
Merging Two
Databases
Multiple Regression with Serial Correlation
Nondetects Analysis
Nondetects Regression
New Tools
Macros
(Programmability)
Color
Selection Windows
Quick
Launch Window
New Features
Enhanced User Interface
Improved Help System
Price
The upgrade CD sells for $249.95 to NCSS 2004 owners and
for $349.95 to owners of earlier versions of NCSS. GESS (our Gene
Expression Statistical System for Microarrays) can be added to any
upgrade order for only $50 more.
Click here to view the
complete price list.
Ordering
To order your upgrade, call us at 1-800-898-6109 (US only) or (801) 546-0445, fax us at (801)
546-3907, email us at
sales@ncss.com, or order
from our secure
online order form.
Compatibility
NCSS 2007 is fully compatible with NCSS 2004.
They share the same database formats and template formats, so you can
use NCSS 2007 with the same procedure templates and data files that you
have used with NCSS 2004. The user interface has changed in this new
version of NCSS. In NCSS 2007 you will find that the user interface has
been updated to make the program easier to use than ever before. NCSS
2007 has been tested and found to be compatible with Windows
7, Vista, and XP.
Documentation
Each of the new procedures is documented in
typical NCSS format. The NCSS Help System has been completely redesigned
to make it even easier to navigate, search, read, and print the
documentation. This documentation is available
online
and is installed with NCSS from the setup file.
New Procedures
Mixed Models
The
Mixed
Models procedure analyzes results from a wide variety of experimental
designs in which the outcome (response) is continuous, including
·
Two-sample designs (replacing the t-test)
·
One-way layout designs (replacing one-way ANOVA)
·
Factorial designs (replacing factorial GLM)
·
Split-plot designs (replacing split-plot GLM)
·
Repeated-measures designs (replacing repeated-measures GLM)
·
Cross-over designs (replacing GLM)
·
Designs with covariates (replacing GLM)
The Mixed Models procedure can be used to test and estimate means
(including pair-wise comparisons among levels), compare models, estimate
variance-covariance matrix components, and produce graphs of means and
repeated measurements of subjects. Restricted maximum likelihood and
full maximum likelihood techniques are implemented in this procedure.
Circular Data Analysis
This procedure computes summary statistics,
generates rose plots and circular histograms, computes hypothesis tests
appropriate for one, two, and several groups, and computes the circular
correlation coefficient for
circular data. Angular
data, recorded in degrees or radians, is generated in a wide variety of
scientific research areas. Examples of angular (and cyclical) data
include daily wind directions, ocean current directions, departure
directions of animals, direction of bone-fracture plane, and orientation
of bees in a beehive after stimuli.
Data Matching - Optimal and Greedy
This
procedure is used to create treatment-control matches based on
propensity scores and/or observed covariate variables. Both
optimal and
greedy matching algorithms are available (as two separate procedures),
along with several options that allow the user to customize each
algorithm for their specific needs. The user is able to choose the
number of controls to match with each treatment (e.g., 1:1 matching, 1:k
matching, and variable (full) matching), the distance calculation method
(e.g., Mahalanobis distance, propensity score difference, sum of rank
differences, etc.), and whether or not to use calipers for matching. The
user is also able to specify variables whose values must match exactly
for both treatment and controls in order to assign a match. NCSS outputs
a list of matches by match number along with several informative reports
and optionally saves the match numbers directly to the database for
further analysis.
Data Simulator
This procedure allows you to simulate, store,
and visualize data from various discrete and continuous distributions,
including Beta, Binomial, Cauchy, Constant, Exponential, F, Gamma,
Multinomial, Normal, Poisson, T, Tukey's Lambda, Uniform, and Weibull.
Mixture distributions may also be simulated. This module creates a
histogram of a specified distribution as well as a numerical summary of
simulated
data. By storing the data, you can investigate the effects of
varying data distributions on hypothesis tests and confidence intervals
for your specific investigational situation.
Data Stratification
This procedure is used to
create stratum
assignments based on quantiles from a numeric stratification
variable (often a propensity score variable). The user is able to choose
the number of strata to create and the amount of data used in the
quantile calculations. Stratification is commonly used in the analysis
of data from observational studies where covariates are not controlled.
Double Dendrograms
Double dendrograms
display clusters for individuals (rows) and variables (columns) in a
single graph. A set of eight hierarchical clustering algorithms are
available including single linkage, complete linkage, and group average.
The procedure outputs lists of the items in each cluster, linkage
reports, and a double-dendrogram.
Merging Two Databases
Occasionally, it is useful to
merge two
databases according to the value of one or more common
(index) variables. This module allows you to merge two databases, or,
alternatively, update one database with the contents of another.
Multiple Regression with Serial Correlation
This procedure uses the
Cochrane-Orcutt method to adjust for serial correlation when
performing multiple regression. The regular Multiple Regression routine
assumes that the random-error components are independent from one
observation to the next. However, this assumption is often not
appropriate for business and economic data. Instead, it is more
appropriate to assume that the error terms are positively correlated
over time. Consequences of the error terms being serially correlated
include inefficient estimation of the regression coefficients, under
estimation of the error variance (MSE), under estimation of the variance
of the regression coefficients, and inaccurate confidence intervals. The
presence of serial correlation can be detected by the Durbin-Watson test
and by plotting the residuals against their lags. Nondetects
Analysis
This procedure computes summary statistics,
generates EDF plots, and computes hypothesis tests appropriate for two
or more groups for data with
nondetects
(left-censored) values. Nondetects analysis is the analysis of data in
which one or more of the values cannot be measured exactly because they
fall below one or more detection limits. Detection limits often arise in
environmental studies because of the inability of instruments to measure
small concentrations. Some examples of sampling scenarios that lead to
datasets with nondetects values are finding pesticide concentrations in
water, determining chemical composition of soils, or establishing the
number of particulates of a compound in the air.
Nondetects Regression
The
nondetects regression
procedure fits the regression relationship between a positive-valued
dependent variable (with, possibly, some nondetected responses) and one
or more independent variables. The distribution of the residuals
(errors) is assumed to follow the exponential, extreme value, logistic,
log-logistic, lognormal, lognormal10, normal, or Weibull distribution.
Nondetected responses occur when one or more of the values cannot be
measured exactly because they fall below one or more detection limits.
New Tools
Macros
NCSS has an interactive (point and click) user
interface which makes in easy to learn and use. At times, however, it is
necessary to repeat the same steps over and over. When this occurs, a
batch system becomes more desirable. This procedure utilizes a batch
language that lets you create a
macro (script or program)
and then run that macro. With the click of a single button, you can have
the program run a series of procedures.
Color Selection Windows
The
color selection windows
let you choose appropriate colors from the 16 million colors that are
available on today's monitors. Although choosing a color sounds like a
trivial task, it can become time-consuming and frustrating. When you
have invested a lot of time and money in a project and now have
important results to communicate, you probably want to take the time to
make outstanding graphics. A few, well-chosen charts can communicate
results quickly and effectively. An important feature of a chart is the
color scheme that you use. The goal of the color selection window is to
provide a tool that will allow you to pick a set of colors that are
pleasing to the eye when viewed together, and let the viewer interpret
the results quickly and effectively. Quick
Launch Window
The
Quick Launch window
contains a button corresponding to each statistical and graphical
procedure in the system. As you mouse over each button, a brief
paragraph explaining the main purpose of the currently selected
procedure will appear in the message box to the right. The Quick Launch
makes it easy to find and launch any procedure from a single screen.
New Features
Enhanced User Interface
The
procedure interfaces have
been redesigned to make the user input easier to complete. Boxes
containing descriptive titles have been added to group similar options
together. This allows for easier navigation of the procedure windows and
faster identification of input categories.
Improved Help System
The
NCSS Help System
has been improved in NCSS 2007 to make it easier to find the topic you
are looking for. It is also now easier than ever to print help topics.
The new help system consolidates the PDF documentation and the Help
System. Adobe®
Reader®
Version 7 or later is required to use the new NCSS Help System. You can
download the latest version of Adobe®
Reader®
by clicking on the link below. The new help system is fully compatible
with Windows 7, Vista, and XP.
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