Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

In an information society there is an increasing range and variety of workplaces in which data and statistical analyses are important in enabling informed decision-making. This unit will introduce you to a range of statistical techniques in usage in a variety of disciplines and in business, industry and government workplaces.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with sufficient knowledge and understanding of advanced statistical methods to enable the application in a range of real-world situations in diverse workplaces and disciplines.

Objectives

On completion of the unit you should be able to:

1. Explain the fundamental concepts underpinning a range of statistical techniques used in a variety of disciplines and workplaces.
2. Apply knowledge of workplace-oriented statistical techniques.
3. Demonstrate analytic and problem solving skills in workplace environments.
4. Carry out an independent investigations.

Content

Experimental design concepts and survey methodology.

Modelling of time-to-event and survival data in contexts relating to health and reliability.

Multivariate analysis with applications to social sciences and health.


Use of Statistical Packages such as SPSS, Minitab and the R-package.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Your work will be context-based using a wide variety of examples from many different areas of application.

A combination of discussion, working through small and larger real world problems, participating in data investigations and group work, and expressing solutions individually and in groups, will promote your creativity in problem-solving, critical assessment skills, and intellectual debate.

The plan of the semester detailing weekly aims and content is given on Blackboard. All materials required for the semester will be available on Blackboard.

This unit is being taught concurrently with an undergraduate offering of the same subject. University policy permits that postgraduate and undergraduate students attend the same lectures. Separate tutorials will be provided for postgraduate students where student numbers allow. As a postgraduate student you will be required to complete separate or additional assessment tasks. For this unit, you will be required to answer additional questions in the written assignments.

Assessment

All assessment in this unit is skills-based and operational assessment. The focus is on problem-solving skills using operational knowledge and understanding of key concepts, techniques and procedures.

The assessment package is carefully designed to help you manage and optimise your learning throughout the semester, allowing for different individual situations and capabilities. The assessment package is designed to help you develop your understanding and skills throughout the semester, aiming for achievement of the synergies and synthesis of the unit by the end of semester.Timely summative and formative feedback is provided on all assessment, consisting of comments to assist students improve their understanding and problem-solving skills, and model solutions to all exercises and problems.

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: (Summative) - Continuous assessment. This will consist of practical and applied problem solving exercises, spaced regularly throughout the semester, to develop your operational knowledge and skills in applying techniques to real data. You will be given a written schedule of due dates for the exercises. The exercises will be marked with feedback to help with both understanding and communication skills. The exercises will reflect the three main sections of the unit, and their weight will reflect the extent of data and data analysis needed.
Relates to objectives: All.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: (Formative) Each week students will be given the opportunity to discuss and solve practical exercises and problems. Solutions will be provided so that you may compare your attempts and clarify any errors or misunderstandings.
Relates to objectives: All.
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: (Summative) - This three hour examination will consist of questions applying your work across the whole semester, with the emphasis on using techniques and interpreting output and results in context. You will be able to take your own summary sheet of material into the examination. Further details will be given during the semester.
Relates to objectives: All.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There are no required texts in this unit. Suggested reference books are:

1. Hastie, T., Tibshirani, R. and Friedman, J. (2008) The elements of statistical learning, 2nd edition, Springer-Verlag; available online at http://www-stat.stanford.edu/~tibs/ElemStatLearn/

2. Johnson, R. A.and Wichern, D. W. (2002). Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis, Prentice and Hall.

3. Collett, D. (2003). Modelling Survival Data in Medical Research, Chapman and Hall.

4. Box, G.E.P., Hunter, J,S., and Hunter, W.G. (2005) Statistics for Experimenters: Design, Innovation & Discovery, John Wiley & Sons: New Jersey.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. Emergency exits, evacuation procedures and assembly areas will be pointed out in the first few lectures. More information on Health and Safety can be obtained from the university's website http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/healthsafe/index.jsp

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 22-Oct-2012