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Unit information: Statistics in Education in 2021/22

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Statistics in Education
Unit code EDUCM5504
Credit points 10
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Professor. Browne
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

This unit introduces the most commonly used statistical procedures used in educational research. No previous experience of statistics is required.

The unit aims to:

  • introduce the most commonly used methods of descriptive statistics in educational research;
  • introduce commonly used procedures, in educational research, for comparing groups and measuring association (independent and paired samples t-tests, non-parametric tests of difference, correlation coefficients and chi-square tests);
  • introduce procedures for selecting the most appropriate technique in relation to the research questions and data collected;
  • be able to carry out appropriate statistical procedures in the SPSS software and report them accurately;
  • effectively interpret statistical results obtained in relation to the original research questions posed;
  • develop students’ critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a range of quantitative methods as applied in the research literature.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Select from the statistical methods covered in the unit and justify their use in a given situation.
  2. Generate descriptive statistics and conduct statistical tests in SPSS, and appropriately report and interpret the output.
  3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of aspects of the quantitative research approaches used in the social sciences

Teaching Information

This unit will be taught using a blended approach consisting of a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities including lectures, computer practicals using SPSS software, and critical reading and discussion of published quantitative articles.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment: Regular SPSS worksheets will be provided in which students attempt to apply the taught methods to data and to interpret the results. Annotated answers will then be provided, allowing students to check their progress. Students will also have the opportunity to post questions and receive feedback on the unit material, SPSS and general questions about the assignment.

Summative assessment: Students will provided with a selection of prepared datasets and/or statistical outputs. In a structured assignment with a number of sections, students will be required to identify the appropriate method for statistical analysis for a given research question and dataset, conduct that analysis in an appropriate software package, select the relevant parts of the statistical output, present them effectively, and interpret the findings (2,000 words equivalent). ILOs 1-3

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EDUCM5504).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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