Students

STAT6114 – Design of Surveys and Experiments

2020 – Session 2, Online with attendance for exam, Exam centre within Australia

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor/Lecturer
Hassan Doosti
hassan.doosti@mq.edu.au
Contact via Contact via Email
12WW 534
please refer to iLearn
Unit Convenor/Lecturer
Kenneth Beath
ken.beath@mq.edu.au
Contact via Contact via Email
12WW 634
please refer to iLearn
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
STAT6170 or STAT670
Corequisites Corequisites
STAT6180 or STAT680
Co-badged status Co-badged status
This unit is co-badged with STAT2114.
Unit description Unit description
This unit introduces the fundamental principles of design of surveys and experiments. Survey design includes quota sampling; question construction; common ambiguities and unintended biases; probability sampling; simple random sampling; stratified sampling; ratio and regression estimators; systematic sampling; and cluster sampling. Experiment design covers the following topics: the completely randomised design; randomised blocks; random effects models; and analysis of covariance.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply commonly used survey designs, sampling methods and appropriate statistical technique(s) to estimate population parameters based on a sample from each design.
  • ULO2: Identify potential issues for survey design, such as sampling bias and non-sampling errors.
  • ULO3: Apply basic knowledge to design questionnaires and construct questions.
  • ULO4: Identify suitable experimental designs to solve a variety of problems.
  • ULO5: Identify appropriate statistical method(s) and use relevant software for the analysis of data from a variety of experimental designs.
  • ULO6: Evaluate the ethical relevance and implications in the design of a questionnaire and in the formulation of its questions.

General Assessment Information

HURDLES: No hurdle requirements

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION: Assignment submission will be online through the iLearn page.

Submit assignments online via the appropriate assignment link on the iLearn page. A personalised cover sheet is not required with online submissions. Read the submission statement carefully before accepting it as there are substantial penalties for making a false declaration.

  • Assignment submission is via iLearn. You should upload this as a single scanned PDF file.
  • Please note the quick guide on how to upload your assignments provided on the iLearn page.
  • Please make sure that each page in your uploaded assignment corresponds to only one A4 page (do not upload an A3 page worth of content as an A4 page in landscape). If you are using an app like Clear Scanner, please make sure that the photos you are using are clear and shadow-free.
  • It is your responsibility to make sure your assignment submission is legible.
  • If there are technical obstructions to your submitting online, please email us to let us know.

You may submit as often as required prior to the due date/time. Please note that each submission will completely replace any previous submissions. It is in your interests to make frequent submissions of your partially completed work as insurance against technical or other problems near the submission deadline.

LATE SUBMISSION OF WORK:  All assessment tasks must be submitted by the official due date and time. In the case of a late submission for a non-timed assessment (e.g. an assignment), if special consideration has NOT been granted, 20% of the earned mark will be deducted for each 24-hour period (or part thereof) that the submission is late for the first 2 days (including weekends and/or public holidays). For example, if an assignment is submitted 25 hours late, its mark will attract a penalty equal to 40% of the earned mark. After 2 days (including weekends and public holidays) a mark of 0% will be awarded. Timed assessment tasks (e.g. tests, examinations) do not fall under these rules.

FINAL EXAM POLICY: It is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is, the final day of the official examination period. The only excuse for not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these special circumstances, you may apply for special consideration via ask.mq.edu.au.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during this supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application.

You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assignment 1 15% No Week 6
Mid-Semester Test 15% No Week 8
Assignment 2 15% No Week 12
Final Exam 55% No University Examination Period

Assignment 1

Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 15%

 

An assignment is set for students to complete independently, applying the knowledge gained from lectures, SGTA exercises, and their readings, and using statistical software. They will be made available on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply commonly used survey designs, sampling methods and appropriate statistical technique(s) to estimate population parameters based on a sample from each design.
  • Apply basic knowledge to design questionnaires and construct questions.
  • Identify appropriate statistical method(s) and use relevant software for the analysis of data from a variety of experimental designs.
  • Evaluate the ethical relevance and implications in the design of a questionnaire and in the formulation of its questions.

Mid-Semester Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 15%

 

A test will be made available on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply commonly used survey designs, sampling methods and appropriate statistical technique(s) to estimate population parameters based on a sample from each design.
  • Identify potential issues for survey design, such as sampling bias and non-sampling errors.
  • Apply basic knowledge to design questionnaires and construct questions.

Assignment 2

Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 15%

 

An assignment is set for students to complete independently, applying the knowledge gained from lectures, SGTA exercises, and their readings, with or without using statistical software. They will be made available on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify suitable experimental designs to solve a variety of problems.
  • Identify appropriate statistical method(s) and use relevant software for the analysis of data from a variety of experimental designs.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: University Examination Period
Weighting: 55%

 

There will be a two-hour written examination (plus ten minutes reading time) during the official University Examination period.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply commonly used survey designs, sampling methods and appropriate statistical technique(s) to estimate population parameters based on a sample from each design.
  • Identify potential issues for survey design, such as sampling bias and non-sampling errors.
  • Apply basic knowledge to design questionnaires and construct questions.
  • Identify suitable experimental designs to solve a variety of problems.
  • Identify appropriate statistical method(s) and use relevant software for the analysis of data from a variety of experimental designs.
  • Evaluate the ethical relevance and implications in the design of a questionnaire and in the formulation of its questions.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classes

Lectures:  There is 1 x 3hr lecture each week.

SGTA’s:   There is 1 x 1hr SGTA class each week.

Course materials, recommended text and other references

Lecture notes will be made available on the unit iLearn page (https://iLearn.mq.edu.au/). 

Recommended text:

  • Lohr, S.L. (2010). Sampling: Design and Analysis, Duxbury Press, for Survey Design.
  • Kuehl, R.O. (2000 or newer). Statistical Principles of Research Design and Analysis, Second edition, Duxbury Press, for Experiment Design;

These are available from the Co-Op Bookshop and the University library.

Other useful references (available in library Reserve):

Lindman HR (1992). Analysis of Variance in Experimental Design. 

Montgomery DC. Design and Analysis of Experiments, 5th or 4th Edition.

Neter J, Wasserman W and Kutner M. Applied Linear Statistical Models.

Scheaffer RL, Mendenhall W and Ott RL (1996). Elementary Survey Sampling, 5th (or newer) Edition.

Cochran WG (1977). Sampling Techniques.

Moser CA & Kalton G (1971). Survey Methods in Social Investigations.

Barnett V (1974). Elements of Sampling Theory.

Technology Used and Required

Software: Minitab is used in this unit. Information about Minitab can be found on its web site at http://www.minitab.com. This software is provided for free to Macquarie students, and can be downloaded from the student portal at http://students.mq.edu.au/home/ for home use.

Unit Schedule

Survey design:

Week

Topic

Chapter (Lohr)

1

Introduction to surveys: sample survey and its principal steps, probability and non-probability sampling, and sources of error

1

2

Simple random sampling (SRS); Parameter estimation

2

3

SRS (contd): estimation of proportion; Stratified random sampling

2, 4

4

Stratified random sampling (contd); Choosing strata sample sizes

4, 3

5

 Ratio and regression estimators

3

6

Cluster sampling; Systematic sampling

5

 

Experimental design:

Week

Topic

Chapter (Kuehl)

7

Designed experiments vs observational studies; Completely randomized design (CRD): one-way ANOVA

1, 2

8

One-way ANOVA (contd); Contrasts

2, 3

9

Contrasts (contd); Multiple comparisons; Model checking

3, 4

10

More on CRD; Randomized block design (RBD)

4, 8

11

Factorial experiments: two-way ANOVA; Random effects – one-way

6, 5 , 11

12

Analysis of covariance

7, 17, 11

Week 13: Revision (self study and exam preparation)

Policies and Procedures

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).

Student Code of Conduct

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

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

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

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. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

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

IT Help

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.