STATS 201 : Data Analysis

Science

2024 Summer School (1240) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A practical course using the R language in the statistical analysis of data and the interpretation and communication of statistical findings. Includes exploratory data analysis, analysis of linear models including multiple regression and analysis of variance, generalised linear models including logistic regression and analysis of counts, time series analysis.

Course Overview

This is a practical course in statistical data analysis with a heavy emphasis on the interpretation and communication of statistical findings. The core of the course covers linear models but also includes an introduction to categorical data, generalised linear models, and time series. The course is taught using the R computing environment, with an emphasis on reproducible research. This enables you to answer many of the commonly encountered quantitative scientific questions of interest. STATS 201 is for any students not enrolled in the Commerce faculty. Students wishing to get a major/minor in Statistics should have done this course. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from STATS 101-108, 191 Restriction: STATS 207, 208

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Be able to select and conduct an appropriate analysis using R. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Fit the appropriate model to a data set, modifying the model as required after checking the underlying assumptions. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Use appropriate tools for exploratory data analysis. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Develop and demonstrate knowledge of the application and consequences of log transformations. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  5. Summarise the main points of exploratory and model fitting phase of the analysis using technical language as well as communicate the mathematical formula for the final model fitted to the data. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  6. Use statistical findings to answer key questions in appropriate context. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  7. Be able to communicate the main findings from an analysis of data to those who know little or nothing about statistics. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
  8. Recognise and interpret output from time series models. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments and quizzes 30% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Coursework
Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Assignments and quizzes
Test
Exam

A minimum of 45% is required in the exam to pass, in addition to a minimum of 50% in overall mark.

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

  • Linear Models: Introduction to R. Simple Linear Models. Assumptions of the linear model. Model checks and inference. Null model (one-sample t-test). Paired t-test. Fitting curves using linear models. Quadratic models. Using categorical variables as explanatory variables. Two-sample t-tests. Multiplicative models. Working on the log scale. Power law models. Models with categorical and numeric explanatory variables (ANCOVA). Models with several explanatory variables. Multiple linear regression. Explanatory factor with multiple levels – One-way ANOVA. Multiple comparisons problem. Two-way ANOVA.
  • Categorical Data and Generalised Linear Models: Count Data. The Poisson distribution. Using Poisson regression via generalised linear models (GLM). Binary responses. Using binomial GLM. Modelling data from tables of counts. Odds ratios.
  • Time Series: Components of a time series. Time series plots. Forecasting. Modelling time series.

Special Requirements

The test will be held during the evening.

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
  • 5-6 hours of reading and thinking about the content
  • 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation (including up to 12 hours of optional tutorials)
For Summer School Courses, you should double this as they are taught at twice the speed.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Attendance in person will be  required for any on campus test and exam.

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.

Other Materials:
  • All learning resources are available on 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.

Student Assistance Hub has proved to be an extremely valuable source of help, but more help was requested leading up to assignments, so we are looking at increasing staffing levels on weeks that assignments are due.

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, 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.

Published on 31/10/2023 10:54 a.m.