Unit aim
Introduces statistical methods required for environmental management, the different types of variables, descriptive statistics and tests of significance (chi-square, t-test, correlation and regression and analysis of variance). Emphasis is placed on choosing a suitable type of data and using an appropriate statistical method in an environmental management setting.
Unit content
- Review of descriptive statistics: data types, number skills, rounding, significant figures, presentation of different variable types and use of scientific calculators
- Measures of central tendency: mean, mode and median
- Measures of dispersion, variance and standard deviation
- Experimental and survey design
- The normal distribution
- Confidence intervals
- Hypotheses testing, student's t test and chi square
- Correlation
- Linear regression
- One-way analysis of variance
- Two-way analysis of variance
- Human and animal care and ethics
- Data management skills for statistics.
Learning outcomes
Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.
Learning outcomes and graduate attributes
| On completion of this unit, students should be able to: | GA1 | GA2 | GA3 | GA4 | GA5 | GA6 | GA7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | show recognition of the different types of variables used in environmental science/management (nominal, ordinal, discrete and continuous) | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||||
| 2 | calculate means, standard deviations, variance and chi square, using a scientific calculator | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||||
| 3 | propose a suitable research question, develop methodologies that would lead to collection of the correct type of data and perform appropriate statistical tests for an investigation relevant to environmental science/management | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | Lifelong learning | ||||
| 4 | state the null hypothesis, calculate required values and interpret the following statistical tests, chi square, t test, correlation, regression and analysis of variance for research questions relevant to environmental science/management | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | |||||
| 5 | explain the difference between a population and a sample and have a basic understanding of key concepts, symbols and terms relevant to survey and experimental design | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||||
| 6 | interpret the results of statistical tests and explain the consequences of Type I and Type II errors in tests of significance and explain the consequences of Type I and Type II errors to environmental management | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | Lifelong learning | ||||
| 7 | interpret statistical tests of significance in environmental management problems. | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | Lifelong learning | ||||
Prescribed texts
Session 2
- No prescribed texts.
Teaching and assessment
Lismore
| Teaching method |
| Lecture on-site 2 hours (10 weeks) |
| Tutorial on-site 2 hours (10 weeks) |
| Structured online learning 1 hour (14 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Quiz | SR |
| Quiz | SR |
| Research Proposal | 25% |
| Research Proposal | 25% |
| Exam: open book | 50% |
Online
| Teaching method |
| Structured online learning 5 hours (14 weeks) |
| Assessment | |
| Quiz | SR |
| Quiz | SR |
| Research Proposal | 25% |
| Research Proposal | 25% |
| Exam: open book | 50% |
Fee information
Domestic
Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2014 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 2
Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees
International
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