Unit name | Educational Statistics |
---|---|
Unit code | EDUC20013 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Wenham |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Education |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit will introduce the use of statistics in educational research. The focus is on giving students the hands-on practical skills to be able to analyse educational data using the most popular descriptive statistics, graphs and statistical tests. Students will learn how to apply the taught procedures in the SPSS statistical software throughout the unit. Emphasis will be placed on choosing the most appropriate procedures in different situations and in how to report results correctly and persuasively. We will concentrate on statistical tests for studying group differences (independent and paired samples t-tests), associations (correlation coefficients, cross-tabulations and chi-squared tests) and predictive relationships between pairs of variables (simple linear regression).
The unit aims to:
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
This unit will be taught using a blended approach consisting of a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities including lectures, seminars, investigative activities, SPSS practicals, reading and discussions. Students will be expected to engage with readings and SPSS activities on a regular basis.
Formative assessment: Regular mathematical and statistical activities and computer practicals using SPSS, to practice the different taught procedures. Annotated answers will be provided to allow students to self-evaluate and peer-evaluate their progress.
Summative assessment:
ILOs 1-4: An assignment (2000 words). Students will be provided with an SPSS dataset and will be asked to address a research question. Students will be required to identify and conduct in SPSS appropriate descriptive statistics, graphs, and statistical tests to address this research question. Students will then have to explain their decisions, report their statistical output, interpret their findings, reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of their analyses, and suggest potential improvements. (70%)
ILO 5: A statistical critique (1,000 words) of the role of league tables, through comparing two institutions. (30%)
Field A. (2013) Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (4th Edition). London, Sage
Foster, L., Diamond, I. & Jeffries, J. (2014). Beginning Statistics: An Introduction for Social Scientists (2nd Edition). London, Sage
Marsh, Catherine & Elliott, Jane (2008). Exploring Data: An Introduction to Data Analysis for Social Scientists (2nd Edition). Cambridge, Polity Press
Rumsey, D. J. (2011). Statistics For Dummies (2nd Edition). Indiana, Wiley.