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Unit of Study MAT00211 - Environmental Information Analysis (2014)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    N/A

Unit description

Introduces statistical methods required for environmental management, the different types of variables, descriptive statistics and tests of significance (chi-square, t-test, correlation and regression and analysis of variance). Emphasis is placed on choosing a suitable type of data and using an appropriate statistical method in an environmental management setting.

Unit content

  • Review of descriptive statistics: data types, number skills, rounding, significant figures, presentation of different variable types and use of scientific calculators
  • Measures of central tendency: mean, mode and median
  • Measures of dispersion, variance and standard deviation
  • Experimental and survey design
  • The normal distribution
  • Confidence intervals
  • Hypotheses testing, student's t test and chi square
  • Correlation
  • Linear regression
  • One-way analysis of variance
  • Two-way analysis of variance
  • Human and animal care and ethics
  • Data management skills for statistics.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore Session 2 Session 2
Online Session 2 N/A

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 show recognition of the different types of variables used in environmental science/management (nominal, ordinal, discrete and continuous)
2 calculate means, standard deviations, variance and chi square, using a scientific calculator
3 propose a suitable research question, develop methodologies that would lead to collection of the correct type of data and perform appropriate statistical tests for an investigation relevant to environmental science/management
4 state the null hypothesis, calculate required values and interpret the following statistical tests, chi square, t test, correlation, regression and analysis of variance for research questions relevant to environmental science/management
5 explain the difference between a population and a sample and have a basic understanding of key concepts, symbols and terms relevant to survey and experimental design
6 interpret the results of statistical tests and explain the consequences of Type I and Type II errors in tests of significance and explain the consequences of Type I and Type II errors to environmental management
7 interpret statistical tests of significance in environmental management problems.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. show recognition of the different types of variables used in environmental science/management (nominal, ordinal, discrete and continuous)
    • GA4:
  2. calculate means, standard deviations, variance and chi square, using a scientific calculator
    • GA4:
  3. propose a suitable research question, develop methodologies that would lead to collection of the correct type of data and perform appropriate statistical tests for an investigation relevant to environmental science/management
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  4. state the null hypothesis, calculate required values and interpret the following statistical tests, chi square, t test, correlation, regression and analysis of variance for research questions relevant to environmental science/management
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  5. explain the difference between a population and a sample and have a basic understanding of key concepts, symbols and terms relevant to survey and experimental design
    • GA4:
  6. interpret the results of statistical tests and explain the consequences of Type I and Type II errors in tests of significance and explain the consequences of Type I and Type II errors to environmental management
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  7. interpret statistical tests of significance in environmental management problems.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.