Students

FOSX1015 – Statistical Concepts for Science

2024 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Karol Binkowski
karol.binkowski@mq.edu.au
Unit Convenor
Jun Ma
jun.ma@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
STAT1170, STAT6170, FOSE1015
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.

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: Organise and summarise data graphically and numerically
  • ULO2: Analyse and solve problems about distributions and sampling distributions.
  • ULO3: Evaluate and apply statistical strategies to answer a research question.
  • ULO4: Draw conclusions from the results of a statistical analysis.
  • ULO5: Evaluate the appropriateness of statistical methodologies when analysing a variety of problems arising from other fields of research.
  • ULO6: Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

General Assessment Information

The "Indicative Time on Task" for each task 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.

REQUIREMENTS TO PASS THIS UNIT

To pass this unit, you must:

  • For each Module Basic Test, achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50/60, and
  • Pass the Employability quizzes

HURDLE ASSESSMENTS

  • Assessment: Module Tests (100%) Low-stake quizzes serve as a formative assessment, providing a regular opportunity to demonstrate understanding and receive feedback for progress. This unit has FIVE module quiz tests, and you must show your mastery in acquiring statistical knowledge by completing and obtaining the required passing mark for each quiz by its due date. These are hurdle assessments meaning that failure to meet this requirement may result in a fail grade for the unit. Please contact stat1170.admin@mq.edu.au if you fail to meet the hurdle requirement.

LATE ASSESSMENT SUBMISSION PENALTY

This unit has no submitted work so LATE ASSESSMENT POLICY does not apply. For missing Module Quizzes, please see the details of "Assessment 3" give above.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment.

For this unit, a student will apply for a Special Consideration ONLY if this student miss a Module Test for more than 3 days. If a student miss a Module test for less than or equal to 3 days, they should apply for an extension through "stat1170.admin@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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Foundation activities 0% Yes Weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
Module Tests 100% Yes Weeks 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12

Foundation activities

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Activities related to foundational employability and self-directed learning skills

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

Module Tests

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weeks 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12
Weighting: 100%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

This unit consists of modules. At the end of each module there is a Module test, in which the student is required to demonstrate mastery of the material covered in that module.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Organise and summarise data graphically and numerically
  • Analyse and solve problems about distributions and sampling distributions.
  • Evaluate and apply statistical strategies to answer a research question.
  • Draw conclusions from the results of a statistical analysis.
  • Evaluate the appropriateness of statistical methodologies when analysing a variety of problems arising from other fields of research.

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

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:

  • A 1-hour lecture – recorded Weeks 1–10.
  • A 1-hour SGTA on the topics of the previous lecture – Weeks 1–11. (Week 1 will introduce the employability module.)
  • A 1-hour practical on the topics of the previous one or two lectures – Weeks 1–11. (Week 1 will introduce the employability module.)

Some activities will be available in connection to the employability modules, especially near the end of semester. Details will be announced via iLearn.

Assistance

For help with any matters related to this unit, students should contact the appropriate department staff, by emailing stat1170.admin@mq.edu.au.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

  • A calculator with statistics mode may be useful during lectures.
  • Software:
    • The software used in this unit is Excel, the spreadsheet application from Microsoft's Office suite. For students with Mac or Windows computers, this application can be downloaded from the student portal. This can be accessed from the web page for Student IT services: http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/.  Students using other operating systems might find Google Sheets or OpenOffice Calc to be a workable alternative.

Recommended textbook for this unit:

  • Modern Statistics: An introduction, Don McNeil and Jenny Middledorp (ISBN 9781486007011). This can be purchased in hard copy from www.booktopia.com.au/coop or in e-format (ISBN 9781486022120).

Other recommended reading:

  • Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, Moore, D.S. and McCabe, G. P (W.H. Freeman)
  • Statistics without Tears by Rowntree (Penguin)
  • Mind on Statistics by Utts & Heckard (Thomson, 2004)
  • Elementary Statistics by Johnson & Kuby (Thomson, 2007)
  • Statistics: The Art & Science of Learning from Data by Agresti & Franklin (Prentice Hall, 2007)
  • The Statistical Sleuth by Ramsey and Schafer (Duxbury, 2002).

Technology Used and Required

iLearn (a version of Moodle) is used for delivery of course material and can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au.

Prizes

The 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.

Unit Schedule

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.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Unit information based on version 2024.01R of the Handbook