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
01-September-2025
30-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
14-September-2025
Census date
22-September-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
17-October-2025
Results released date
23-December-2025
Study Period 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
23-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
16-June-2026
Study Period 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
31-August-2026
29-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
13-September-2026
Census date
21-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
20-October-2026
Results released date
15-December-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
 

  1. Effectively display information in datasets graphically
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Explain the foundations of statistical inference, in particular the role of sampling distributions and the use of the normal distribution as a density curve
  5. Recognize when more advanced techniques are needed
  6. Write interpretive summary reports for both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis

Teaching methods

All Applicable Locations

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Online Learning activities 12 12 weeks 1
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 138 12 weeks 11.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  50%  1,2,3,4,5,6 
Online Quiz Individual 10%  2,4,5
Final-Semester Test Individual  40%  2,3,4,5,6

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.