WesVar Capabilities

Advantages of Using WesVar

Westat developed WesVar to help you compute estimates, replicate variance estimates, and more. WesVar includes great features, from importing and exporting data to creating weights, generating statistics, and obtaining regression output. Learn more about How WesVar Works and WesVar Features.

Easy to Use

WesVar’s simple point-and-click interface lets users quickly create weights, specify tables, and define regression models. Coding of procedure statements is unnecessary.

Multiple Methods to Create Weights

Users can create survey weights using three methods of jackknife replication and two versions of balanced repeated replication. Users select the variables that identify strata and primary sampling units and choose a replication method. WesVar creates a set of weights for each replicate subsample. Users can then adjust the weights for nonresponse, post-stratify the weights, or rake weights to control totals.

User-Defined Functions

Analysis requests are organized in workbooks that have an intuitive tree structure. Highlighting different nodes in the tree allows users to do the following

• Select the statistics they want
• Control the appearance of output
• Set the level of confidence intervals
• Specify many other options

Simple dialog boxes let users define complicated functions of estimates in cells of a table and statistics like means, quantiles, and standardized rates.

Regression models are specified with a few mouse clicks or by dragging and dropping variables. Easy-to-use screens let users define customized hypothesis tests and odds ratios.

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WesVar Training

Westat can provide training for the WesVar software to give users the information they need to produce survey weights and analyze data collected from complex samples. Training can include a series of lessons that present some of the statistical theory for survey weighting and estimation. Training can also be provided for practical applications of the procedures available in WesVar, including weighting adjustments and replication, tables, regression, and descriptive statistics.

Experienced Staff

Westat has trainers with years of experience in survey statistics and in teaching WesVar to academic, government, and commercial clients in the U.S. and around the world. Trainings combine lecture and demonstration with practical, hands-on exercises that students can work through at their own pace.

Variety of Training Sites

Training can be held at Westat’s training facility or at another location. Materials can also be modified to suit an individual organization’s needs.