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Unit of Study STAT1002 - Scientific Data Management and Analysis (2024)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

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Unit description

Data management and analysis are essential tools for scientists. This unit provides students with basic skills in data management, illustration, analysis, and interpretation that will be foundational for careers in science and science-related disciplines. The unit will examine different types of data and how to compare and present them in a scientific manner using a range of graphing techniques. Case studies will be examined from regenerative agriculture, marine science, ecology and biomedical science. The unit covers introductory-level analyses such as t-tests, ANOVA, correlation and regression, and Chi-square tests. Emphasis is placed on matching data with appropriate statistical tests to provide students with knowledge on how to answer simple scientific hypotheses. The unit also gives an overview of experimental designs and sampling strategies for data collection that can be applied across disciplines.

Unit content

1. Scientific measurements and data

2. Data management, tables and graphs

3.  Statistically comparing data between two or more groups

4. Analysing relationships: correlation and regression

5. Analysing categorical data

6. Experimental and survey designs

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Term3
Term3
National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour
Term3
Term3
Online
Term3
Term3

Learning outcomes

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:

demonstrate an understanding of how to calculate descriptive statistics for different data types

apply skills in Excel to organise, analyse and display data and results in a professional manner

identify and differentiate core principles of sampling and experimental design

present and interpret results of statistical analyses in a professional manner.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • There are compulsory readings for this unit, which are indicated in the six Modules. You will be given links to download a few readings. For the most part, you will be referring to the following text below (Ennos & Johnson), which is prescribed for this unit. SCU has two online copies of that book for the class to use, but the online licence allows only two users at any given time so access will not always be available for those online copies.: Ennos, R & Johnson, M, 2018, Statistical and Data Handling Skills in Biology, 4th edn, Pearson, Harlow, UK. ISBN: 9781292086033.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Software for data management and analysis: All students will need to have access to a
    computer with Microsoft Office 2004 or later version (with Microsoft Excel and the Data Analysis
    Toolpack add-in installed).

  • You will need to visit the unit site in Blackboard each week during the teaching period. The Unit Content section in Blackboard structures your learning in the unit into six modules, which are arranged by topic rather than by equivalent amounts of work. So, some modules should take less than one week to complete while others will take a little more than one week to work through.

    The Blackboard site for this unit gives you access to:
    • unit information, assessment details and submission links and information
    • lecture recordings and associated resources
    • links to joining the tutorials and workshops, or watching the recordings
    • the Discussion Board for asking questions to the Unit Assessor that other students would want to be aware of
    • grades and feedback for completed assessment items.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.