Unit information: Educational Statistics in 2018/19

Unit name	Educational Statistics
Unit code	EDUC30035
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Leckie
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

Understanding how to use, present and analyse data, select the right statistical test, interpret the results correctly and communicate findings honestly and effectively are essential tools in social science, policy research and also in business and commerce.

The aim of this unit is to:

• introduce students to the principles of statistical enquiry drawing on examples from social scientific research;
• provide an introduction to the statistical software, SPSS.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. understand the most commonly used descriptive statistics and graphs in educational research;
2. understand the most commonly used statistical tests in educational research;
3. apply these procedures in SPSS, report and interpret the output correctly;
4. select and justify the most appropriate procedures in different situations;
5. read and engage with published research which use these procedures.

Teaching Information

Lectures, seminars and practical classes

Assessment Information

Formative:

In class practical assignments

Summative:

ILO 1-4: An assignment (2000 words). Students will be provided with several SPSS datasets and will be asked to address a different research question on each dataset. Students will be required to identify and conduct in SPSS appropriate descriptive statistics, graphs, and statistical tests to address each research question. Students will then have to report their statistical output following academic conventions, interpret their findings, reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of their analyses, and suggest potential improvements. (100%)”

Reading and References

Best J, 2012, Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists (Updated edition). Ewing, NJ: University of California Press.

Dilnot A, Blastland M, 2008, The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers (expanded edition). London: Profile Books.

Elliott J, Marsh C, 2008, Exploring Data: An Introduction to Data Analysis for Social Scientists. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Frankfort-Nachmias C, Leon-Guererro A, 2014, Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. London: Sage.

Hand DJ, 2008, Statistics: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Huff D, 1991, How to Lie with Statistics (new edition). London: Penguin.

Rogers S, 2013, Facts are Sacred. London: Faber & Faber