STATS 108 : Statistics for Commerce

Science

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The standard Stage I Statistics course for the Faculty of Business and Economics or for Arts students taking Economics courses. Its syllabus is as for STATS 101, but it places more emphasis on examples from commerce.

Course Overview

An ability to gain insight from data enables organisations and individuals to inform their decisions, make predictions and generate new knowledge. Advances in technology allow us new ways of thinking and reasoning in the physical and social sciences, and finance. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to statistical investigation and analysis, and equip them with the skills and confidence needed to navigate the modern world of data.

This is a core course in all majors/pathways for Statistics. It is also a supporting course for many other subjects (e.g. Psychology, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, Computer Science, Geography, Biology, Sociology,…).

The course covers some material similar to NCEA statistics but at a higher level and more advanced material is also covered. While some Year 13 statistics or mathematics is helpful, we do not assume or require that you have any formal background in statistics or mathematics. If you have a limited background in mathematics, you may want to consider STATS 100 as an alternate course or as preparation before taking this course.

Course Requirements

Restriction: STATS 101, 102, 107, 191

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Recognise different purposes and motivations for making data-based decisions and the consequences of those decisions for affected communities. (Capability 2 and 5)
  2. Describe ethical, responsible, and culturally-responsive data practices, acknowledging Māori Data Sovereignty. (Capability 1 and 8)
  3. Use data generated from a range of sources, considering how decisions made affect its quality, diversity, and quantity. (Capability 1 and 8)
  4. Develop models using data, representations and critical reasoning, considering the applicability and generalisability of models and model-based claims. (Capability 3)
  5. Select and apply appropriate technology to analyse data, considering automated and reproducible approaches. (Capability 4)
  6. Produce written summaries that communicate the uncertainty associated with data, and interpret and critique communications produced by others (Capability 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Online tasks and quizzes 30% Individual Coursework
Online test 20% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Online tasks and quizzes
Online test
Final Exam
A minimum of 45% is required in the exam to pass, in addition to a minimum of 50% in your overall mark.

Key Topics

  • Module 1: Modern data technologies and responsibilities (Datafication, Classification, Prediction, Randomisation)
  • Module 2: Making and evaluating claims or decisions based on data (Estimation, Quantification, Confirmation, Explanation)
  • Module 3: Designing and communicating about data (Variation, Distribution, Regression, Generalisation)

Special Requirements

The online test will be held during the evening.

Tuākana

Tuākana Statistics is the Māori and Pasifika community of learning in the Department of Statistics. We offer the following support to our Māori and Pasifika students: drop-in sessions for guidance with the quiz and task, one-to-one assistance on any aspect of the course, and study wānanga for the test and exam. For more information, contact Susan Wingfield (s.wingfield@auckland.ac.nz) or Heti Afimeimounga (h.afimeimounga@auckland.ac.nz).

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 12.5 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, a typical weekly workload includes:
  • 3 hours of lectures
  • Regular drop-in help sessions
  • 5-6 hours of reading and thinking about the content
  • 4 hours of work on tasks and/or test preparation (including up to 12 hours of optional drop-in help sessions).

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including drop-in help sessions will not be available as recordings.

The course will include live online events including lectures.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Access to a custom online coursebook is provided via Canvas. 

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

In response to student feedback, we have made numerous changes including:

  • Changed task marking to a feedback mark and a final mark. Students who engaged with all parts of the tasks and submitted on time got full marks.
  • Changing the due time of quizzes and tasks to 10pm.
  • Notes and interactive exercises are released well in advance of the lectures and any related assessment dates.
  • Lecture notes are being modified to make the connection between the learning outcomes, the lectures and the assessments more explicit.

Other Information

Choosing your course:
  • If you are studying for a BCom, BProp, BPlan or BArch you should enrol in STATS 108.
  • If you are studying for a BSc, BA or other degree you should enrol in STATS 101.
  • If you have a limited background in mathematics, you may want to consider STATS 100 as an alternate course or as preparation before taking this course.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.