FAISALABAD, June 15: University of Agriculture vice-chancellor Dr Bashir Ahmad has said the effects of technological progress have extended beyond the ability to manipulate data. It has ridden the researchers of the past constraints on data analysis and afforded them the ability to engage in more substantive development and testing of their theoretical models.

He was speaking at the closing ceremony of a short course on “Applied Multivariate Statistical Techniques Using Different Statistical Packages” conducted by the UAF in collaboration with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council here on Thursday.

Dr Bashir said computer technology available today, almost unimaginable just two decades ago, had made possible extraordinary advancements in the analysis of physiological, sociological, agricultural and other types of data.

He said this impact could be realised from the fact that computers could analyse a large quantity of complex data.

Prof Dr Rakhshanda Nawaz, the dean faculty of sciences, said if the quality of research in the national scenario was to be improved, the level of competence in biometrical principles and techniques must be improved for both statistics staff and research staff.