BUYER'S GUIDE
Choose help you can
defend to your
committee.
Dissertation statistics help ranges from a quick answer to a done-for-you service, and the differences matter. Compare your options, then ask any consultant, including us, the eight questions below.
Jump to the questionsA short guide · Written by a statistician who does this work.
YOUR OPTIONS
Four kinds of help,
compared fairly.
Each has a place.
The right one depends on what you need.
| Option | Best for | Watch out for | What you keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your advisor or department | Questions inside your program's norms, and a first read of your plan. | Limited time, and not every advisor covers your software or method. | Full ownership of the work. |
| A statistical consultant who teaches | Choosing a method, planning the analysis, reading output, and responding to committee feedback. | Scope, price, and style vary widely. Check that you will be taught, not just handed results. | Authorship, the code, and the understanding, when the consultant works with you. |
| A done-for-you analysis or writing service | Speed, when you only need numbers produced. | Authorship and integrity rules. Some programs prohibit this kind of help, and you may not be able to explain the work at your defense. | Depends on the service. Ask. |
| Self-study with free tools and templates | Low cost and flexibility when you already know your method. | No one checks your decisions, so errors can go unnoticed. | Everything, including the risk. |
EIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK
What a good answer
sounds like.
Ask these of anyone you consider.
Notice how clearly they answer.
| Ask | A good answer | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Do you write any part of my dissertation? | No. You write it. I advise, teach, and review. | Offers to write chapters or results sections for you. |
| 2. Who will work on my project? | A named person, with their background. | A vague team, hand-offs, or no way to learn who did the work. |
| 3. Can I run and explain the analysis myself afterward? | Yes. We work through it together and you keep the code or syntax. | Results delivered without the steps, or no code you can rerun. |
| 4. What are the scope, price, and timeline? | Deliverables, price, and timing are agreed before work starts. | No clear answer until after you pay, or pressure to decide quickly. |
| 5. What experience do you have with my method? | Specific training, teaching, or published work with that method. | Only general claims, such as being an expert in all of statistics. |
| 6. Will you tell me if my data can't support my claim? | Yes, and we discuss the alternatives and what you can honestly say. | Guarantees of significant results, or a promised outcome. |
| 7. How do you handle my data? | De-identified data, with a clear plan for secure transfer. | Asks for identifiable participant data by plain email. |
| 8. Is this allowed by my program, and how should I acknowledge it? | Check your policy and tell your chair. Many students acknowledge the support. | Tells you not to mention it, or to hide the help. |
HOW WE ANSWER
Hold us to the same questions.
You are the author
Dr. Yel does not write your dissertation or any chapter of it. The decisions, the interpretations, and the prose are yours. He advises, teaches, and reviews.
You work with one person
You work directly with Dr. Yel, who holds a PhD in measurement, statistics, and methodological studies from Arizona State University, has more than 15 years of applied statistics experience, and has taught graduate statistics. Read his background.
You can explain every number
Analyses are run together in live sessions, with you watching or at the keyboard, and you keep the syntax or code from every session so you can rerun each step.
Scope and pricing are discussed in a free 30-minute consultation before you decide. See how pricing works. Please don't email sensitive or identifiable participant data. Secure transfer arrangements are set up after engagement.
A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING
Good questions.
Honest answers.
How much does a dissertation statistician cost?
Prices vary widely, and a low or high quote tells you little by itself. Ask what is included and what the timeline is before you agree. Here, scope and pricing are discussed in a free 30-minute consultation, based on your design, your data, and the support you need, before you decide.
Is it okay to hire a statistician for my dissertation?
Usually, for consulting, though rules vary by program. You should remain the author of the work. Check your program's policy and let your chair know.
What is the difference between a statistician and a dissertation coach?
A coach typically focuses on process, planning, and accountability. A statistical consultant focuses on methods, analysis, and interpretation. Some people offer both, so ask what you would actually receive.
When should I hire a statistician?
Earlier is better. Help with the analysis plan and sample-size planning before you collect data can prevent problems that are hard to fix afterward. You can also get help later, with analysis, results, or committee feedback.
Can a consultant guarantee significant results?
No. An honest analysis reports what the data show. A promise of significant results is a warning sign.
TRY THE QUESTIONS ON US
Ask us
anything on the list.
Meet with Dr. Yel for a free 30-minute consultation about your study, your data, and what kind of help would actually serve you.
Book a free consultationCan't find a time that works? Email bookingrequest@dissertationstatshelper.com with a few times you're available and your time zone, and we'll find a time. It's a new address, so if you don't see our reply, please check your spam folder.