Introduction to Statistics

Aims and objectives

• To provide knowledge and skills sufficient to allow students to understand the role of statistics in research.
• To develop skill in the basic methods of data gathering and analysis.
• To provide sufficient background to be able to interpret statistical results in research papers.
• To develop sufficient knowledge of probability and probability distributions to support further studies in statistics and operations research.

Teaching methods

Assessment

Generic skills outcomes

This unit of study will contribute to helping students achieve some of the attributes expected of Swinburne graduates. The material chosen for this unit of study reflects the statistical knowledge and skills expected in your chosen profession, and will be linked as far as possible, through choices of examples and problems, with current professional practice.

The graduate attributes which relate to this unit of study help to produce students who:

• Are capable in their chosen professional areas: Students will attain statistical knowledge and skills that will support their professional work. This will include abilities in critical enquiry, an awareness of the relationship between statistical theory and practice and an appreciation of the limitations of statistical models.
• Are adaptable and manage change: Problem-solving and research skills are parts of statistical abilities and enable students to investigate problems and issues of their own devising as well as those covered in this unit of study.
• Are aware of environments: Using appropriate technology will be an important part of this unit of study and will assist students to develop a socially responsible awareness of the role of technology in society. The development of statistical and research skills will contribute to students being able to evaluate the impact of their professional decisions that have economic, social or environmental implications.

Content

• Displaying and summarising univariate and bivariate data.
• Introduction to probability.
• The normal, binomial and Poisson distributions; simulation of random variables.
• Obtaining data from experiments and surveys.
• Estimating means and proportions.
• Statistical tests using the normal, t, and Chi-square distributions.
• Simple linear regression.
  

Note: A graphics calculator will be used extensively in this unit of study. A computer package such as Minitab may also be used.