Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
David Bulger
12 Wally's Walk, Room 530
Wednesdays 10–12
Anne Karpin
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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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, providing basic statistical knowledge. The unit is concerned with the development of an understanding of statistical practice and is illustrated by a study of those techniques most commonly used in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. The aim of statistical practice is to make the scientific research process efficient; for this reason statistics is used in disciplines ranging from accountancy to zoology.
Topics covered in this unit include: data collection methods; data quality; data summarisation; and statistical models like the normal distribution, followed by sampling distributions and statistical inferences about means, proportions and quantiles. 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 along with word processing for reporting the results. However, no prior computing knowledge is assumed. |
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:
You must attend and participate in at least 10 of the 12 weekly lectures, tutorials and practical classes from Week 2 to Week 13, to pass this unit. Please contact your lecturer as soon as possible if you have difficulty attending and participating in any classes. There may be alternatives available to make up the work. If there are circumstances that mean you miss a class, you can apply for special consideration.
Students are advised that 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, i.e., the final day of the official examination period.
The only valid excuses for not sitting an examination at the designated time are documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these special circumstances you may apply for Special Consideration via ask.mq.edu.au. A supplementary examination will only be granted if the student has been found to have had a significant disruption to studies. If a supplementary examination is granted as a result of the disruption to studies process, the examination will be scheduled within the period 17–21 December.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Participation in classes | 0% | Yes | During classes |
Class test 1 | 10% | No | Week 4 |
Mid-semester exam | 25% | Yes | Week 7 |
Class Test 2 | 25% | No | Week 12 |
Final Examination | 40% | No | University Examination Period |
Due: During classes
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Warning: this is a hurdle assessment. To pass the unit, students need to participate in lectures, tutorials and practicals.
More specifically, students must actively participate in at least:
Participation in these activities will gain no marks, but is a requirement to pass the unit. Active participation is defined below.
Lectures
During lectures, questions relevant to the content will be displayed and students will have the opportunity to "vote" for the right answer. The activity will be based on a specific online polling system to be advised, which students will be able to access using any connected device they own (e.g., smartphones, tablets, laptops).
Students enrolled in the face-to-face mode will be required to bring a connected device to class. Students enrolled in the live-streaming mode will be required to watch the live-stream at the same time as the weekly lecture (not the recording at any other time) and will have the responsibility to either find a free computer on campus or to use their own, preferably using the MQ University network for reliability reasons.
Should students not have access to a connected device during lectures, they should contact the unit convenor before or during the first week of the teaching period.
Tutorial and practical classes
Participation will be assessed by tutors and demonstrators via rosters and observation of students' work during classes. Attendance and reasonable engagement in the class activities in at least 10 tutorial classes and 10 practical classes are requirements to pass the unit.
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 10%
The first Class Test will be held in Week 4. Students will complete the test during the practical class the are enrolled in. Student will have access to a computer and will be requested to use Minitab to answer the questions of the test. The duration of the test will be 40 minutes.
The test will assess:
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 25%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Warning: this is a hurdle assessment. To pass the unit, students need to achieve 50% or more in this assessment task.
The mid-semester exam will be held in Week 7. Students will complete the exam during the practical class they are enrolled in. The duration of the exam will be 40 minutes.
The exam will assess:
The requirements will be similar to those of the final exam:
As the mid-semester exam is a hurdle assessment, if students have made a serious first attempt, they must be given one more opportunity. A serious first attempt in a hurdle assessment is defined in STAT170 as the achievement of a mark of 30% or greater. The 30% threshold is firm and cannot be changed or relaxed.
Students will be able to re-sit the exam during the second week of the semester break. This week has been chosen in order to allow failing students to withdraw without academic penalties.
Students who won't be able to sit the exam during the semester break (e.g., because they are overseas or take part in sport competitions), will be allowed to sit the exam in Week 8. This option is not optimal and should be avoided, as students failing to pass the mid-semester exam won't be able to withdraw without academic penalties.
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 25%
The second Class Test will be held in Week 12. Students will complete the test during the practical class they are enrolled in. Students will have access to a computer and will be required to use Minitab to answer the test questions. The duration of the test will be 40 minutes.
The test will assess:
Due: University Examination Period
Weighting: 40%
The Final Examination will be a two-hour written exam (plus ten minutes' reading time) and will be held during the examination period. A page of formulae and relevant statistical tables will be attached to the final examination. Students will be permitted to take one A4 sheet (any colour), handwritten on both sides (using pens and/or pencils) into the final examination. This sheet must be submitted with your final exam paper at the conclusion of the exam. A statistics calculator may also be taken into the final examination. See additional information posted on iLearn for more details on preparing for the final exam.
The exam will assess:
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The University Examination timetable will be available in draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/.
Important:
If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the supplementary examination period, which is 17–21 December. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the 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.
Students should attend the following:
Please note
The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au.
Students can change their tutorial and practical classes by using eStudent at: https://student1.mq.edu.au/.
For help with STAT170-related administrative matters, students should contact the STAT170 admin officer, via stat170.admin@mq.edu.au.
Recommended textbook used in this unit:
Other recommended reading:
iLearn (which is a version of Moodle) is used for delivery of STAT170 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 a year to the student with the best overall performance in a first year statistics unit.
PART | MODULE | WEEK | LECTURE TOPIC | IN-CLASS ASSESSMENT |
Basics | 1 |
1 2 |
Introduction to statistics; Graphing data Numerical summaries |
Class Test 1 [10 marks]
Mid-semester exam [25 marks]
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2 |
3 4 5 |
The Normal distribution Distribution of means and proportions Confidence intervals |
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6 | More on populations and samples; Review of Modules 1, 2 | |||
Tests | 3 |
7
8 |
One-sample hypothesis test for a population mean 2 wks break Hypothesis tests for comparing population means |
Class Test 2 [25 marks]
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4 |
9 10 |
Simple linear regression (Part 1) Simple linear regression (Part 2) |
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5 |
11 12 |
Hypothesis tests for a population proportion: z-test and chi-squared goodness-of fit Chi-squared test of independence |
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13 | Review of STAT170 |
Tutorial and practical activities by week:
WEEK | LECTURE | TUTORIAL | PRACTICAL |
1 | L1 | T1: Intro, in class | P1: Intro, do at home |
2 | L2 | T2: on L1, in class | P2: on L1, in class |
3 | L3 | T3: on L2, in class | P3: on L2, in class |
4 | L4 | T4: on L3, in class | P4: on L3, at home + Class Test 1 |
5 | L5 | T5: on L4, in class | P5, on L4, in class |
6 | L6 | T6: on L5, in class | P6: on L5, in class |
7 | L7 | T7: on L6, in class | P7: Mid-Semester Exam |
8 | L8 | T8: on L7, in class | P8: on L7, in class |
9 | L9 | T9: on L8, in class | P9: on L8, in class |
10 | L10 | T10: on L9, in class | P10: on L9, in class |
11 | L11 | T11: on L10, in class | P11: on L10, in class |
12 | L12 | T12: on L11, in class | P12: on L11, at home + Class Test 2 |
13 | L13 | T13: on L12, in class | P13: on L12, in class |
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:
Undergraduate 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 shown in iLearn, 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.
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 improve your marks and take control of your study.
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
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.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
No changes are planned for Session 2, 2018.
In recent offerings, these changes have been introduced:
Date | Description |
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27/07/2018 | An incorrect lecture time appeared in the Unit Guide. I have removed that text. |