Course Coordinator:Peter Davies (pdavies1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
This course builds on the foundation of SCI110 and will introduce you to more sophisticated statistical analyses. Theoretical knowledge introduced in the learning materials will be enhanced by detailed illustration in tutorials and hands-on application in computer workshops. In each case, the theory will be applied to real-world problems. On completion of this course, you will be confident in critically assessing the range of statistical tests that might be employed in a given situation, in identifying which test best suits the scenario, and in conducting this test using cutting-edge computer software.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Asynchronous online learning materials. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On-campus tutorial. | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Laboratory 1 – On-campus laboratory. | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Seminar – On Campus seminar | 1hr | Week 1 | 3 times |
Experimental design; testing hypotheses; qualitative vs quantitative analyses; designing and administering questionnaires; correlation, multiple and logistic regression; analysis of variance; non-parametric statistical tests; using SPSS
200 Level (Developing)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
1 | Formulate research questions and select appropriate research designs |
Empowered Ethical |
2 | Select appropriate sampling strategies and calculate required sample sizes |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
3 | Perform exploratory data analysis | Knowledgeable |
4 | Use a computer program to produce publication-quality graphs and descriptive statistics |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
5 | Evaluate the suitability of different statistical models using a range of diagnostic tools |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
6 | Conduct statistical tests and write concise summaries of their results, as would be required for publication in scientific journals |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
SCI110 or BUS101
Not applicable
ANM203
Basic statistical concepts including measurement scales, basic sampling strategies, presentation of data, the Normal distribution and basic parametric tests including Z scores and t tests.
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
In weeks three and four workshops will be held during the tutorials to assist you in writing the assignment proposal
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Artefact - Technical and Scientific | Group | 20% | 500 words |
Week 7 | Online Submission |
All | 2 | Report | Group | 40% | 2500 words |
Week 12 | Online Submission |
All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Exam Venue |
All - Assessment Task 1:Assignment proposal | ||||||||||||||||
Goal: | You will design a proposal for a qualitative survey to investigate a campus issue.You will demonstrate this by selecting an appropriate research design, and designing and evaluating questions with preliminary data analysis techniques. |
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Product: | Artefact - Technical and Scientific | |||||||||||||||
Format: | Individual or group submission; online submission via Canvas in week 7 |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
All - Assessment Task 2:Scientific report | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Goal: | You will use the results from your qualitative survey already completed and write a full scientific IMRaD format report |
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Product: | Report | |||||||||||||||||||||
Format: | Individual or group submission; online submission via Canvas in week 12 |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
All - Assessment Task 3:Final exam | |||||||||||||||||||
Goal: | To assess knowledge gleaned from the entire 12 Weeks of the course; the language of statistics, research design, designing and administering questionnaires, correlation, multiple and logistic regression, Analysis of Variance, Non-parametric statistical tests and using SPSS. |
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Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||||||||||||||
Format: | Individual submission;Solution attempts made on the examination paper2 hours duration; centrally scheduled exam |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
Recommended | Wayne W. Daniel | 1999 | Biostatistics | n/a | John Wiley & Sons Incorporated |
Recommended | George Diekhoff | 1992 | Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences | n/a | WCB/McGraw-Hill |
Recommended | Jim Fowler,Lou Cohen,Phil Jarvis | 1998 | Practical Statistics for Field Biology | n/a | John Wiley & Sons |
Recommended | Natalie L. Sproull | 1995 | Handbook of Research Methods | n/a | Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press |
Recommended | Woodward M | 1999 | Epidemiology: Study Design and Data Analysis | n/a | Chapman & Hall/CRC |
Recommended | Jerrold H. Zar | 1999 | Biostatistical Analysis | n/a | n/a |
Recommended | D. A. De Vaus | 2002 | Surveys in Social Research | n/a | n/a |
You need access to a calculator with statistical functionality. Examples include, but are not limited to: CasioFX100AU Scientific Calculator; Casio FX82 AU PLUS-BP Scientific Calculator; Sharp EL531WHBLK Scientific Calculator. You need access to IBM SPSS Statistics (commonly called simply SPSS). SPSS is available in most USC computer laboratories. You do not need to purchase SPSS. However, you may find completing the assessment tasks easier if you have access to SPSS on your own personal computer. Unfortunately, student editions of SPSS are no longer available, and the USC licensing arrangements do not allow SPSS to be loaded onto student computers. You may wish to explore purchasing an SPSS license from (for example) www.onthehub.com. (At the time of writing, a six-month licence for IBM SPSS Statistics Base Grad Pack version 21 is about $60.)
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate (the rates are cumulative): - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
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The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
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