Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have developed understanding of statistical concepts including tabular and graphical representation of frequency distributions; measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode); measures of dispersion (eg standard deviation); data transformation (eg z-scores); correlation coefficients and linear regression; probability and statistical inference; between-group differences (t-test, analysis of variance) and testing the significance of differences; the chi-square statistic for comparing frequencies; non-parametric statistics (binomial test, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon test). Students should be able to use statistical methods correctly. Students should be able to decide, given a research problem, on the appropriate statistical technique. Students should also be able to read and critically evaluate research papers employing statistical procedures.
Synopsis This subject sets out to help students develop a systematic understanding of statistical concepts. Competence at secondary school algebra is assumed. The subject provides background in quantitative educational research but is also suitable for students in the health, behavioural and environmental sciences; it is available as a subject towards the MEnvSc degree. The aims are to explore the two major functions of statistics - to summarise the quantitative properties of sets of data (descriptive statistics) and to serve as a research tool linking theoretical concepts and hypotheses to conclusions, interpretations and decisions (inferential statistics); to emphasise the logical and mathematical principles underlying the use of statistical techniques; to enable students to read statistical material intelligently and critically, to determine whether a particular statistical test is appropriate in a given situation and to design their own research techniques in such a way as to avoid common errors of analysis.
Assessment Assignments and three open-book tests (two to be done at home): 33% each