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Unit of study_
ATHK1901: Analytical Thinking (Advanced)
2025 unit information
Analytical Thinking covers aspects of research design, interpretation of data, analysis, logic, and thinking processes. It is comprised of three sections: Data Concepts and Analysis; Logic and Basic Arguments; and Research and Everyday Reasoning. The section on Data Concepts and Analysis covers aspects of research design, data collection, and introduces basic forms of hypothesis testing and statistical tests. The Logic and Basic Arguments section covers material ranging from valid and invalid forms of argument and errors in reasoning to critiques of arguments presented in case studies. The Research and Everyday Reasoning section examines how arguments and scientific evidence are presented and interpreted in the media, society, and interpersonal interactions. Together, the three unit components teach foundational skills necessary for carrying out meaningful academic discussions, arguments, and research studies, which may be applied to any area of scholarly enquiry. The advanced version of the unit looks more at the mathematical underpinnings of the statistics used.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Psychology Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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ATHK1001 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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75 or above in HSC Mathematics Standard or equivalent |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Demonstrate a basic conceptual understanding of descriptive statistics used across disciplines.
- LO2. Demonstrate a basic conceptual understanding of inferential statistics used across disciplines, though not of their mathematical underpinnings.
- LO3. Demonstrate basic skills in computing and data handling
- LO4. Understand and evaluate the quality of data based on its sources and the different methods used to collect it.
- LO5. Identify ways of approaching the exploration of a research question and understand potential sources of bias in information sources.
- LO6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of how logic can help analytical thinking and use it to analyze problems, within your discipline and across disciplines.
- LO7. Demonstrate an understanding of basic processes of thinking and why these could lead to errors in reasoning, the evaluation of data and of learning.
- LO8. Communicate the results of data analysis and research appropriately through written work
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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Important enrolment information
Departmental permission requirements
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