Overview
This unit will introduce you to preliminary concepts in statistics. The material covered in this unit will allow you to do research as part of your undergraduate and/or professional career/s. The goal of this unit is to provide you with the skills to perform basic statistical analyses (e.g., t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square, linear regression, etc.), as they apply in the health, human, and social sciences. It is a recommendation of enrolment in the unit that you have competency at secondary-level mathematics. Students lacking competency at secondary level (including basic algebra) are encouraged to contact the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) to discuss their options before enrolling in this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit evaluations and personal email correspondence with students
Students provided positive feedback on the structure and delivery of the lectures. Specifically, they found the 'what, why, how' approach easy to follow. They also said they appreciated the step-by-step explanations and demonstrations of calculation steps for each statistical test.
Continue the practical approach to the theoretical and calculation aspects of the unit.
Feedback from Unit evaluations
Students generally appreciated the iterative assessment schedule of the unit, and noted that this approach helped them to stay on top of the content and focus their learning efforts effectively.
Continue the iterative assessment schedule.
Feedback from Moodle forums and email correspondence
Feedback was given concerning the amount of time given for the Online Quizzes; specifically, they advised that they would appreciate an extra five minutes reading time (i.e., in addition to the 20 minutes) for each quiz.
Include a five-minute reading time for each of the Online Quiz assessment tasks, in order to enable students to familiarise themselves with the questions.
- Explain and evaluate different statistical methods and procedures
- Apply statistical procedures, methods and calculations
- Translate statistical output into a summary, formatted in APA style.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | |||
| 2 - Portfolio - 50% | |||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 10% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 10% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Understanding Statistics in Psychology with SPSS
7th Edition (2017)
Authors: Howitt, D., & Cramer, D.
Pearson
Harlow Harlow , Essex , UK
ISBN: 9781292134215
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Paper copies can be purchased from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
eBook copies can be purchased from the publisher's website here: https://pearson.com.au/9781292134253
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- GNU PSPP (free statistics analysis program)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.lole@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to data analysis
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
-
Module/Topic
Data distributions &
Describing our variables
Chapter
3, 4, and 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz #1 AVAILABLE: Week 2 Wednesday (24 Jul. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Z-scores, Percentiles, & Probability
Chapter
6, 10, and 19
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio #1 AVAILABLE: Week 3 Wednesday (31 Jul. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Online Quiz Due: Week 3 Wednesday (31 July 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Data relationships &
What test to use?
Chapter
7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz #2 AVAILABLE: Week 4 Wednesday (7 Aug. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Calculation Portfolio Due: Week 4 Wednesday (7 Aug 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Hypothesis testing &
Reporting our results
Chapter
12, 15, and 20
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz #2 DUE: Week 5 Wednesday (14 Aug. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Online Quiz #3 AVAILABLE: Week 5 Wednesday (14 Aug. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
-
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
-
Module/Topic
Correlation
Chapter
8 and 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz #3 DUE: Week 6 Wednesday (28 Aug. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Calculation Portfolio Task #2 AVAILABLE: Week 6 Wednesday (28 Aug. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Simple regression &
Partial correlation
Chapter
9 and 32
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio Task #2 DUE: Week 7 Wednesday (4 Sept. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Online Quiz #4 AVAILABLE: Week 7 Wednesday (4 Sept. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Related samples t-test
Chapter
13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz #4 DUE: Week 8 Wednesday (11 Sept. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Calculation Portfolio #3 AVAILABLE: Week 8 Wednesday (11 Sept. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Unrelated samples t-test
Chapter
14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio #3 DUE: Week 9 Wednesday (18 Sept. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chi-square test
Chapter
18
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio Task #4 DUE: Week 10 Wednesday (25 Sept. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Calculation Portfolio Task #5 AVAILABLE: Week 10 Wednesday (25 Sept. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
One-way and two-way independent groups ANOVA
Chapter
22, 23, and 25
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio Task #5 DUE: Week 11 Wednesday (2 Oct. 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Effect size &
Confidence intervals
Chapter
16 and 17
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
-
Chapter
-
Events and Submissions/Topic
-
Module/Topic
-
Chapter
-
Events and Submissions/Topic
-
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Online quizzes will be open from 09:00 (AEST) on the Wednesday of Weeks 2, 4, 5, and 7.
The ones available in Weeks 2, 4, and 7 will be due one week from opening, i.e., at 09:00 (AEST) on the Wednesdays of Weeks 3, 5, and 8; the one due available in Week 5 will close two weeks from opening, at 09:00 (AEST) on the Wednesday of Week 6 (i.e., Online Quiz # 3 is not due in Vacation Week).
Online tests are comprised of 20 multiple-choice questions, and you will have 25 minutes to answer these.
- Quiz 1 (due in Week 3) will cover material from Weeks 1 and 2
- Quiz 2 (due in Week 5) will cover material from Weeks 3 and 4
- Quiz 3 (due in Week 6) will cover material from Week 5
- Quiz 4 (due in Week 8) will cover material from Weeks 6 and 7
You have one attempt at each quiz.
4
Other
Week 3 Wednesday (31 July 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Quiz #1 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 31/07/2019; Quiz #2 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 14/08/2019; Quiz #3 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 28/08/2019; Quiz #4 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 11/09/2019
Week 3 Wednesday (31 July 2019)
Grades and feedback will be made available in Moodle immediately after each quiz closes (see DUE dates above).
Each correct answer will be awarded half (0.5) a mark.
- Explain and evaluate different statistical methods and procedures
- Translate statistical output into a summary, formatted in APA style.
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
2 Portfolio
Calculation Portfolios will be open from 09:00 (AEST) on the Wednesday of Weeks 3, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
All are due one week from opening, i.e., at 09:00 (AEST) on the Wednesdays of Weeks 4, 7, 9, 10, and 11, respectively.
You have one attempt for each Calculation Portfolio task, for which you will have two (2) hours to complete it.
Week 4 Wednesday (7 Aug 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Calculation task #1 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 07/08/2019; Calculation task #2 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 04/09/2019; Calculation task #3 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 18/09/2019; Calculation task #4 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 25/09/2019; Calculation task #5 is due 09:00am (AEST) on 02/10/2019
Week 4 Wednesday (7 Aug 2019)
Grades and feedback will be made available in Moodle immediately after each task closes (see DUE dates above).
Each correct answer will be awarded one (1) mark.
- Apply statistical procedures, methods and calculations
- Problem Solving
- Information Technology Competence
3 Written Assessment
You will be required to choose and run an appropriate statistical analysis using computer-based software, as well as interpret and report these results in American Psychological Association (APA) format.
Week 12 Wednesday (9 Oct 2019) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Wednesday (23 Oct 2019)
Assessments with feedback will be returned approximately two weeks from the due date.
This assessment will be graded out of 10. Marks will be allocated, according to the following criteria:
1. Selection of an appropriate statistical analysis for the given data (2 marks)
2. Justification for the choice of statistical test (2 marks)
3. Results reported and interpreted correctly (4 marks)
4. Results written according to American Psychological Association (APA) standards (2 marks)
- Explain and evaluate different statistical methods and procedures
- Apply statistical procedures, methods and calculations
- Translate statistical output into a summary, formatted in APA style.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
