STATS 150/150G : Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics
Science
2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
STATS 150 aims to prepare anyone, regardless of whether or not they have any background in statistics, to become a critical consumer of statistical information. STATS 150 will be useful for aspiring journalists, politicians, political scientists, sociologists, lawyers, public communicators, health personnel, conservationists, environmental scientists, business people, marketers, engineers, and scientists. It examines the uses, limitations, and abuses of statistical information in a variety of activities such as polling, public health, sport, law, marketing, and the environment. The statistical concepts and thinking underlying data-based arguments will be explored. The interpretation and critical evaluation of statistically-based reports as well as the construction of statistically sound arguments and reports will be emphasised. Some course material will be drawn from topics currently in the news.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
Learning Outcomes
- Critically evaluate a statistically-based study and communicate and justify judgement on the study (Capability 1 and 2)
- Calculate and/or interpret estimates and confidence intervals and assess claims made in the media (Capability 1 and 3)
- Describe important characteristics of well-conducted polls, surveys, experiments and observational studies and identify potential biases (Capability 1)
- Synthesise information from a scientific study by constructing a statistically-sound media article (Capability 4)
- Identify and discuss probabilistic and statistical concepts and reasoning embedded in everyday contexts (Capability 1 and 4)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 15% | Individual Test |
| Tutorials | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Tutorials | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Must achieve 45% in the final exam, in addition to 50% overall, to pass the course.
Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html
Statistics has a Tuākana Programme where there is a workspace and a social space shared with Science Tuakana students. Tutorials and one-to-one assistance are available. Tuākana tutors/mentors work alongside the lecturer to support students with assignments and revision for the quizzes and exams. For more information and to find contact details for the Statistics Tuākana coordinator, please see https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html
Contacts are Susan Wingfield (s.wingfield@auckland.ac.nz) and Heti Afimeimounga (h.afimeimounga@auckland.ac.nz).
Key Topics
- Topic 1 - Introduction to Media Reports (week 1)
- Topic 2 - Surveys & Polls (weeks 2 & 3)
- Topic 3 - Experimentation (week 4)
- Topic 4 - Risk (weeks 5 & 6)
- Topic 5 - Media Reports (weeks 7-9)
- Topic 6 - Statistical Reasoning (weeks 10-12)
Special Requirements
Participation is required for the tutorial component of coursework.
The mid-semester test will be held in the evening. The date and time will be advised on Canvas at the beginning of the semester.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 150 hours per semester involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, a typical weekly workload includes:
- 3 hours of lectures
- A 1-hour tutorial
- 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content
- 5-6 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
This course is not available for remote students.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Tutorials will not be available as recordings.
Participation is expected at scheduled tutorials to receive credit.
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.
Coursebook:
- The course book is available online via Canvas
Equipment:
- Students should have access to a basic scientific (or graphics) calculator
Textbook:
- There is no required textbook
Recommended Reading:
- Blastland, M., & Dilnot, A. (2009). The Numbers Game: The Commonsense Guide to Understanding Numbers in the News, in Politics, and in Life. Gotham Books, New York, NY.
- Utts, J. M. (2014). Seeing through statistics. Cengage Learning.
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.
Student feedback is always welcome. In response to feedback this year, we are making downloadable pdfs of lecture slides available in both 2-up and 4-up format.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, 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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.