Outline

Overview

In a data-rich world, global citizens need to problem solve with data and evidence based decision-making is essential in every field of research and work. This unit equips you with the foundational statistical thinking to become a critical consumer of data. You will learn to think analytically about data and to evaluate the validity and accuracy of any conclusions drawn. Focusing on statistical literacy, the unit covers foundational statistical concepts, including the design of experiments, exploratory data analysis, sampling and tests of significance.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	MATH1005
Academic unit	Mathematics and Statistics Academic Operations
Credit points	3
Prohibitions ?	MATH1015 or MATH1905 or STAT1021 or ECMT1010 or ENVX1001 or ENVX1002 or BUSS1020 or DATA1001 or DATA1901
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	HSC Mathematics Advanced or equivalent
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Rachel Wang, rachel.wang@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Michael Stewart, michael.stewart@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Rachel Wang, rachel.wang@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Exam Multiple Choice and Extended Answer Questions	50%	Formal exam period	1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project 1 See Canvas	20%	Week 08 Due date: 21 Apr 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 02 May 2023	word limit 1450
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project 2 See Canvas	20%	Week 12 Due date: 19 May 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 29 May 2023	word limit 1050
Outcomes assessed:
Small test	Revision Quiz Multiple Choice Revision Questions	8%	Weekly	Weekly Revision Quiz
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Labs Participation in lab classes	2%	Weekly	1 hour/week
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Revision quizzes: Each week 3 revision quizzes are posted on Monday and they are due by the following Sunday. The best 10 out of 12 quizzes count. The better mark principle will be used for the weekly quizzes so do not submit an application for Special Consideration or Special Arrangements if you miss a quiz. The better mark principle means that the total quiz mark counts if and only if it is better than or equal to your exam mark. If your quiz mark is less than your exam mark, the exam mark will be used for that portion of your assessment instead.
Projects: Details about the projects and instructions for submission will be given on Canvas. Penalties apply for late submission. A mark of zero will be awarded for all submissions more than 10 days past the original due date. Further extensions past this time will not be permitted.
Final Examination: The final exam for this unit is compulsory and must be attempted. Failure to attempt the final exam will result in an AF grade for the course. Further information about the exam will be made available at a later date on Canvas. If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voce (oral exam). The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator.
Lab Participation: This is a satisfactory/non-satisfactory mark assessing whether or not you participate in class activities during the labs. It is 0.25 marks per lab class up to 8 labs (there are 12 labs).

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Representing complete or close to complete mastery of the material.
Distinction	75 - 84	Representing excellence, but substantially less than complete mastery.
Credit	65 - 74	Representing a creditable performance that goes beyond routine knowledge and understanding, but less than excellence.
Pass	50 - 64	Representing at least routine knowledge and understanding over a spectrum of topics and important ideas and concepts in the course.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Design of Experiments: Controlled experiments + Observational studies	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Lab 1	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 02	Data & Graphical Summaries: Qualitative + Quantitative data	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Lab 2	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 03	Data & Graphical Summaries: Centre + Spread	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Lab 3	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 04	Numerical Summaries: Normal Model + Reproducible Reports	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Lab 4	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 05	Linear Model: Scatter Plot & Correlation + Regression line	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Lab 5	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 06	Understanding Chance: Chance & Simulations	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Lab 6	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 07	Chance Variability: Law of averages and sums + The Box Model	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Lab 7	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 08	Chance Variability: Normal approximation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Lab 8	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 09	Sample Surveys: The Box Model for Sample Surveys & Simulations	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Lab 9	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 10	Testing: Hypothesis testing & Z Test	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Lab 10	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 11	Testing: One and Two Sample T Tests	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Lab 11	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 12	Testing: Other Tests	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Lab 12	Computer laboratory (1 hr)
Week 13	Revision	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture attendance: You are expected to attend lectures. If you do not attend lectures you should at least follow the lecture recordings available through Canvas.
Lab attendance: Labs (one per week) start in Week 1. You should attend the lab given on your personal timetable. Attendance at tutorials and participation will be recorded to determine the participation mark. Your attendance will not be recorded unless you attend the lab in which you are enrolled. We strongly recommend you attend labs regularly to keep up with the material and to engage with the lab questions.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There are no required readings. However, we will loosely follow Statistics, Freedman, Pisani, and Purves (2007). Examples of how to get access to the text book:

E-text ($65): www.wileydirect.com.au/buy/statistics-4th-international-student-edition
Hard copy: Co-op Bookshop
Library

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. articulate the importance of statistics in a data-rich world
LO2. identify the study design behind a dataset and how the study design affects context specific outcomes
LO3. produce, interpret and compare graphical and numerical summaries in R
LO4. apply the normal approximation to data, with consideration of measurement error
LO5. model the relationship between 2 variables using linear regression
LO6. use the box model to describe chance and chance variability, including sample surveys and the central limit theorem
LO7. given real multivariate data and a problem, formulate an appropriate hypothesis and perform a hypothesis test
LO8. interpret the p-value, conscious of the various pitfalls associated with testing
LO9. critique the use of statistics in media and research papers, with attention to confounding and bias
LO10. perform data exploration in a team, and communicate the findings via oral and oral reproducible reports

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Small tutorial participation mark added with a consequent reduction in the online quiz weightings.

Additional information

Lectures: Lectures are face-to-face and streamed live with online access from Canvas.
Labs: Labs are small classes in which you are expected to work through questions from the tutorial sheet.
Ed Discussion forum: https://edstem.org

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

MATH1005: Statistical Thinking with Data

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect