Overview

This unit develops students’ understanding of a range of statistical methods along with their assumptions and limitations of their application. It enables students to develop the capacity to carry out independent statistical analysis of data using a standard statistical software package and also aims to develop students’ abilities in effectively communicating the outcomes of statistical investigations. In addition, it will provide a foundation and motivation for exposure to statistical ideas subsequent to the Graduate Certificate (GC) course.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Study Period 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-August-2024
24-November-2024
Last self-enrolment date
08-September-2024
Census date
16-September-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
11-October-2024
Results released date
17-December-2024
Study Period 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-August-2024
24-November-2024
Last self-enrolment date
08-September-2024
Census date
16-September-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
11-October-2024
Results released date
17-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Effectively display information in datasets graphically
  • Select an appropriate descriptive or inferential statistical technique based on the researcher’s hypothesis, the level of measurement of the variables and testing of the appropriate assumptions to analyse the data
  • Select appropriate IBM SPSS Statistics procedures, Java applets on the web and mathematical calculations, to obtain basic statistical test results, including confidence intervals and effect size statistics
  • Explain the foundations of statistical inference, in particular the role of sampling distributions and the use of the normal distribution as a density curve
  • Recognize when more advanced techniques are needed
  • Write interpretive summary reports for both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online Contact (Phasing out)
Collaboration		1.00 12 weeks 12
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		11.50 12 weeks 138
TOTAL150

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Lecture		2.00 12 weeks 24
Online Contact (Phasing out)
Online Learning Activities		1.00 12 weeks 12
Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Various		2.00 12 weeks 24
Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Independent Learning		7.50 12 weeks 90
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 40% 1,2,3,6 
ExaminationIndividual 50% 2,3,4,5,6 
Online QuizIndividual 10% 2,4,5 

Content

  • Level of measurement
  • Displaying and summarising categorical and metric data
  • Describing the relationship between variables
  • Correlation and causation
  • Normal Distribution
  • Sampling Distributions
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Hypothesis testing
  • Statistical Inference for the mean
  • t-tests for one sample, paired and independent data.
  • Statistical Inference for the population coefficient.
  • The chi-square test of independence
  • Choosing the correct statistical test

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.