2010 Course Handbook
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STAT170: Introductory Statistics
This unit provides a broad introduction to statistical concepts and data analysis techniques, and is concerned with the development of an understanding of statistical practice and is illustrated by a study of those techniques most commonly used in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. The aim of statistical practice is to make the scientific research process efficient; for this reason statistics is used in disciplines ranging from accountancy to zoology and most in between. Whilst this unit may be taken as a terminating unit in statistics, it provides only basic statistical knowledge. Students intending to complete a major in statistics, or those wishing to acquaint themselves with the practical application of statistical techniques, are advised to include STAT270 Applied Statistics and STAT273 Introduction to Probability in their program. Topics covered include: data collection methods; data quality; data summarisation; and statistical models like the normal distribution, followed by sampling distributions and statistical inferences about means, proportions and quantiles. Also studied are methods of analysis relating to comparisons, counted data and relationships, including regression and correlation. Statistical computer packages are used for handling and analysing data along with word processing for reporting results. However, no prior computing knowledge is assumed.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| Contact Hours: | 4 |
| When Offered: | D1 - Day; Offered in the first half-year D2 - Day; Offered in the second half-year D3 - Day; Offered over the full year E1 - Evening; Offered in the first half-year E2 - Evening; Offered in the second half-year E3 - Evening; Offered over the full year Summer Session - Offered in January-February as part of Summer School program X1 - External study; Offered in the first half-year (Session Dates: 1 May (V)) |
| Staff Contact(s): | Dr Brian Jersky |
| Prerequisites: | |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | STAT171, PSY122 |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Statistics |
| People or Planet: | Planet |
Timetable Information
For unit timetable information please visit the Timetables@Macquarie Website .