Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convener and Lecturer
David Bulger
Lecturer
Karol Binkowski
Administrative assistance
Academic assistance
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides a broad introduction to statistical concepts and data analysis techniques. You will develop an understanding of statistical practice through a study of those techniques most commonly used in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. Topics covered in this unit include data collection methods, data quality, data summarisation, and statistical models such as the normal distribution, followed by sampling distributions and statistical inferences about means and proportions. Also studied are methods of analysis relating to comparisons, counted data and relationships, including regression and correlation. Statistical computer packages are used for handling and analysing data. However, no prior computing knowledge is assumed. This unit introduces vital skills for tertiary learning and explores their relationship to success in future careers. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
The data in the above table's "Estimated Time on Task" column is automatically generated, and potentially confusing. The times given for the tests (2 hours each) are just estimates; for each student, this will depend on how many times the test is attempted. The times allocated to activity participation (each 0 hours) should be ignored.
HURDLES: All assessment tasks are hurdle requirements to pass this unit. These can be different for internal and external students. Details will be provided on the iLearn page for the unit.
ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION: Online Students - Even though you are enrolled in online mode, you are required to engage with the lecture material each week. This will be monitored via short weekly participation quizzes; see the iLearn site for details. Please contact the unit convenor as soon as possible if you have difficulty completing any of these participation quizzes on time. There may be alternatives available to make up the work. If there are circumstances that mean you will miss a participation quiz, you can apply for Special Consideration via ask.mq.edu.au.
There is no participation requirement for Practicals or SGTAs for students enrolled in online mode (although you should work through this material to improve your understanding).
TEST SUBMISSION: Each module's test will be online, via the iLearn page. Students may attempt each test as many times as they choose, prior to the end of Week 13, with the highest mark counting toward the student's grade. For each test, a serious attempt (defined as a mark of at least 30%) must be made by the deadline in order to pass the unit.
A student who does not make a serious attempt (that is, score at least 30%) on any test by its deadline will fail the unit, unless Special Consideration is granted. If you miss a test deadline due to circumstances out of your control, you may be eligible to apply for Special Consideration via ask.mq.edu.au.
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS: This unit has been designed so that 20% of student workload is allocated to employability skills. The employability skills modules are not graded, but the modules are hurdle tasks: you must complete the activities as outlined in order to pass this unit. Some activities will be automatically graded, but all will ask you to apply the modules to your work in this unit, general university studies and your personal goals. You will be informed of any due dates, but most modules can be completed in your own time. See your iLearn unit for detailed information on how to complete the skills modules.
FINAL EXAM POLICY: There is no final exam for this unit.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.
Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
The statistics content will be delivered in classes from Week 1 to Week 11. Specifically, students should work through the following material on a weekly basis:
The details of activities in the employability module will be announced via iLearn.
Assistance
For help with any matters related to this unit, students should contact the appropriate department staff:
Recommended textbook used in this unit:
Other recommended reading:
iLearn (which is a version of Moodle) is used for delivery of course material and can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au.
Don McNeil Prize for Introductory Statistics is named in honour of the foundation Professor of Statistics at Macquarie University. The prize is awarded twice per year to the student with the best overall performance in a first-year statistics unit.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
In Weeks 1–10, the lectures will introduce the following topics. Each topic will be developed in SGTAs and Practicals in the following week.
Week 1 | Data, research questions, graphics |
Week 2 | Numerical data |
Week 3 | Introduction to distributions |
Week 4 | Sampling distributions |
Week 5 | Hypothesis tests for a population mean |
Week 6 | Comparing population means |
Week 7 | Simple linear regression |
Week 8 | Simple linear regression |
Week 9 | Categorical data analysis |
Week 10 | Categorical data analysis |
Employability activities and assessment will occur throughout the semester, including Weeks 11–13.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
This new unit has been adapted from an earlier unit, STAT170, with some changes. The statistical content has been modernised and streamlined (including changing software to Excel, and avoiding the use of statistical tables) to allow for the new employability content. The assessment structure has been altered, and the final exam eliminated.