STATS 201 : Data Analysis
Science
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This is a practical course in statistical data analysis with a heavy emphasis on 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.
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 |
Learning Outcomes
- Be able to select and conduct an appropriate analysis using R. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Fit the appropriate model to a data set, modifying the model as required after checking the underlying assumptions. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Use appropriate tools for exploratory data analysis. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Develop and demonstrate knowledge of the application and consequences of log transformations. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- 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)
- Use statistical findings to answer key questions in appropriate context. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- 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)
- 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 |
| 3 types | 100% |
| 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.
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.
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 coursework assistance, and study wānanga for the test and exam. For more information, contact Susan Wingfield (s.wingfield@auckland.ac.nz).
Workload Expectations
- 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)
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.
- 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, and we have increasing staffing levels on weeks that assignments due to feedback.
Requests for additional case studies to assist with assignments have been met by providing a series of case studies based on previous assignments, which include associated videos available on Panopto.
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.