James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

MA1401:03

Statistics and Data Analysis

Townsville, Cairns HECS Band 2

39 hours lectures, 13 practice classes, 13 hours practicals. Semester 2.

Staff: Dr Y Mallet, Mr M Steele.

This subject introduces students to concepts involved in descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics include methods of producing, exploring, displaying and describing data, both of single and multiple variables, elementary probability, the normal distribution, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression and analysis of variance techniques. Emphasis will be placed on how statistics is used in practice and on the presentation and interpretation of statistical analyses. A computing package and calculator will be used to facilitate numerical calculations.

Learning Objectives:

  1. to recognise the relevance and importance of statistical methods in the student’s respective discipline;
  2. choose and apply appropriate and graphical and numerical tools for organising, describing and exploring data;
  3. understand the basic principles of sample selection and experimental design;
  4. select and apply appropriate statistical tools to perform a range of inferential analyses;
  5. make appropriate use of a statistical computer package;
  6. be able to competently interpret the output produced from a statistical computing package.

Assessment by coursework (50%); a three-hour examination (50%).