Skip to Main Content

Content

Course Tabs

Overview

Course Prescription

A practical course using the R language in the statistical analysis of data and the interpretation and communication of statistical findings. Includes exploratory data analysis, analysis of linear models including multiple regression and analysis of variance, generalised linear models including logistic regression and analysis of counts, time series analysis.

Course Overview

This is a practical course in statistical data analysis with a heavy emphasis on interpretation and communication of statistical findings. The core of the course covers linear models but also includes an introduction to categorical data, generalised linear models and time series. The course is taught using the R computing environment with an emphasis on reproducible research. This enables you to answer many of the commonly encountered quantitative scientific questions of interest. STATS 201 is for any students not enrolled in the commerce faculty. Students wishing to get a major/minor in statistics should have done this course. 

Key Topics

  • Linear Models: Introduction to R. Simple Linear Models. Assumptions of the linear model. Model checks and inference. Null model (one-sample t-test). Paired t-test. Fitting curves using linear models. Quadratic models. Using categorical variables as explanatory variables. Two-sample t-tests. Multiplicative models. Working on the log scale. Power law models. Models with categorical and numeric explanatory variables (ANCOVA). Models with several explanatory variables. Multiple linear regression. Explanatory factor with multiple levels – One-way ANOVA. Multiple comparisons problem. Two-way ANOVA.
  • Categorical Data and Generalised Linear Models: Count Data. The Poisson distribution. Using Poisson regression via generalised linear models (GLM). Binary responses. Using binomial GLM. Modelling data from tables of counts. Odds ratios.
  • Time Series: Components of a time series. Time series plots. Forecasting. Modelling time series.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 12.5 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in. For this course, a typical weekly workload includes:

  • 3 hours of lectures
  • 5-6 hours of reading and thinking about the content
  • 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation (including up to 12 hours of optional tutorials)

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite
Restriction

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City
City
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Attendance in person will be required for any on campus test and exam.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Other Materials:

  • All learning resources are available on Canvas

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

A minimum of 45% is required in the exam to pass, in addition to a minimum of 50% in overall mark.

Special Requirements

The test will be held during the evening.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345678

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Student Assistance Hub has proved to be an extremely valuable source of help, and we have increasing staffing levels on weeks that assignments due to feedback.

Requests for additional case studies to assist with assignments have been met by providing a series of case studies based on previous assignments, which include associated videos available on Panopto.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

Tuākana Statistics is the Māori and Pasifika community of learning in the Department of Statistics. We offer the following support to our Māori and Pasifika students: drop-in sessions for coursework assistance, and study wānanga for the test and exam. For more information, contact Susan Wingfield (s.wingfield@auckland.ac.nz).

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.