A Faculty Development Program on Data Analysis using SPSS and R software was organized in NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata on the 12^th-14^th January 2024. The number of participants exceeded the anticipated level (60). The total number of participants included faculty members (83) + portal heads (6).

This Faculty Development Program (FDP) was aimed at honing the teaching and research skills of faculty, researchers, and trainers to inculcate confidence in the usage of data analysis tools. The first-day session was a theoretical approach to the subject and was conducted in the AV Room, while the second day of the session was a hands-on practical session (which was conducted in SMRC 61). Prof. Bandyopadhyay explained how using statistical tools can help summarize data into quicker and more manageable information and quickly decide whether relationships between two or more variables are real ones. He explained how research challenges are addressed using software products like SPSS to obtain valuable information from the data. The five hours of theoretical session on Day 0, included an introduction to the tool, its application fields, limitations, and data tabulation. This was followed by providing a basic tutorial on its initial usage – like creating and saving data files in the data editor, data file organization, entering data in the Data Editor, Entering Commands & Data in the Syntax File, and generating output. Sir delivered a lecture on assumptions and hands-on SPSS and made the participants learn how they can be applied in research. In the post-lunch session, Prof. G. Bandyopadhyay explained about conducting analyses in the data editor. An overview of the theoretical understanding of a few statistical analyses (like bivariate and multivariate) was also provided in the session.

The Faculty Development Program was carried out both through theoretical sessions as well as hands-on workshop modules using hands-on lab sessions with valid data sets. On Day 1 of the session, the faculty members were provided with data sets to have a hands-on experience of the theoretical session. How is SPSS used for varied forms of analysis (from ANOVA to Factor, and other multivariate analyses), to the interpretation of the results; Prof. Gautam Bandyopadhyay gave participants a hands-on experience in the six-hour session conducted on 13^th January 2024. He shared his insights on how to use data analytics to establish the relationship between different attributes.

Training on Statistical Packages SPSS has enlightened the faculty members about Research Methodologies, Scale Development, Data Analysis, Reliability, and Variability of data. All the intricate concepts related to the SPSS software were elucidated in a very simple way so that all faculty members could conduct meaningful research work and could also guide other researchers in the future. Post attending the program, the participants have developed an understanding of data screening, missing value analysis and introduction to SPSS, type of variables, and data sheet preparation. Participants got to learn the measurement and analysis techniques, data screening, interpretation of descriptive and inferential statistics, and how to run parametric and non-parametric tests in SPSS.  The participants liked the session and have requested more such sessions.